Home
This I Believe
A select group of Grade 12 students bared their souls on Monday in front of an audience of invited guests at the annual “This I Believe” evening of speeches. The evening showcased a wide range of topics and emotions as the graduating students read aloud pieces they have written about topics close to their hearts.
As part of the English curriculum at Shawnigan, all Grade 12 students prepare essays about a topic of their choice, reflecting in some way on takeaways from their high school experience, and read it to their classmates. The classes then help decide who reads at the final event, held in the Chapel in early June in front of an audience restricted to their fellow Grade 12 students and invited staff members.
Topics this year included the importance of cherishing every moment, friendship, challenging oneself, the untold stories that everyone carries with them, and fart jokes. (It’s deeper than you think.)
The students’ vulnerability in front of their peers provides insight into how close and supportive a community Shawnigan is.
The event in the Chapel is an intimate experience, and presenters do not wear their uniforms, instead opting for something they are comfortable in. It is a highly anticipated part of the calendar as the school year comes to an end.
Shawnigan’s “This I Believe” program was inspired by the 1950s CBS radio series by the same name and many subsequent series that have used the same name. The readings are traditionally followed by an outdoor reception in the Quad.
We acknowledge with respect the Coast Salish Peoples on whose traditional lands and waterways we live, learn and play. We are grateful for the opportunity to share in this beautiful region, and we aspire to healthy and respectful relationships with those who have lived on and cared for these lands for millennia.
Shawnigan Lake School is an independent co-educational boarding school for ages 12 –18 on Canada’s beautiful Pacific Coast. Our diverse, interdisciplinary and innovative programming helps shape the next generation of global leaders.
