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My name is Maddyn. However, most people here only know me as Maddie. When people ask if I’d rather be called “Maddie” or “Maddyn,” I’ll usually tell them it doesn’t matter.

Today, I want to talk about something that we all face every single day of our lives: the choices we make.  An average human makes on average 35,000 choices per day. From the smallest decision, like what to have for breakfast, to the most monumental, like choosing a career path or housing, our choices shape the path of our lives.

I'm sure most of you know who I am, whether l’m that that funny guy from French class, your favourite prefect or that weird kid from cross-country. If you asked me who I am, I would have no idea what to tell you, but if you asked me one year ago, I would be able to tell you how I saw myself.

When I started writing this speech, I had no idea what I wanted to write about. Would I write the cliché speech about how Stanstead has changed my life, or about how to get involved in student activities as an introvert or about something else entirely? I completely and utterly could not make up my mind about what I wanted my statement to the school to be. When I started to reflect on the past four years of my life, I thought back to prefect orientation, and Mr. Marino's words echoed in my ears: "Be real. Don't try to impress others by saying something you don't truly mean." So, I will do just that. I'm going to be real with you right now and share some of my struggles and how I am overcoming them.

Last year I spoke about the founder of Orange Shirt Day, Phyllis Webstad. Today I would like to share Juliette’s story, a little girl from Mistissini, Quebec, the place I call home.

Last week, the entire student body of Stanstead College left campus and set off in all directions for the annual academic class trips.

As your head prefect, today, I am inaugurating this year’s round of prefect speeches, a beautiful tradition that is carried out every year, where prefects are able to share a little piece of what they are made of with the rest of the school. Hence, to share a little bit of what I’m made of and what I believe in, I decided, instead of talking of what I have achieved and what I’m proud of, to be more vulnerable with you and talk about what I am still working on for myself and hopefully inspire you to do the same thing.

As my four-year journey at Stanstead comes close to an end, I remember my first day here as if it were yesterday. The excitement, the nerves and the anticipation of what was to come are still vivid in my mind. Over these years, I have met countless people, participated in numerous sports games and learned many valuable lessons. While my time at Stanstead might sound like a seamless adventure, the reality is that it was a challenging journey filled with ups and downs. Let me share some of those experiences with you. 

I want to talk about a topic that truly resonates with me: gratitude. As we all know, it’s very easy to get caught up in this crazy life at Stanstead, but I want to remind you all to not forget the little things that make it special.  

Did you know that we have seven Fridays left until summer? And that includes this week, and break. Seven Fridays. In fact, 35 Fridays have already passed. I know because I counted them. Fridays are like milestones to me. Every Friday that passes is an accomplishment because it means I somehow got through another week of math class.

Most of the time, people fail to appreciate the value of something until it's gone. Whether it's relationships, possessions, opportunities or even health, realizing their importance often dawns only after they have been lost or compromised. When you are used to having something, you assume it’ll always be there and eventually begin to overlook it. Why does this happen?

My name is Halle. I am a prefect, thank God. (Shout out Mr. Marino!) It is my fourth and final year here at Stanstead College (hopefully). I like to laugh, run and play sports. Oh, and my friends are pretty cool even if I tell them they aren’t. But something I am super passionate about is my mental health.

Be positive. It sounds so cliché, doesn’t it? Yet, a few weeks ago, I found myself giving one of my friends this advice, and gosh, did I hate myself as soon as I said it. I know when I am given this advice, I cringe and roll my eyes, because it’s so easily said, and so difficult to act upon.

I’m sure you have all heard the phrase, “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” but the reality is that many people do not model this phrase. As human beings, the first thing we notice about someone we meet is their appearance. Without any knowledge of their personality or who they truly are, we make an assumption, either positive or negative. But why do we not look past that initially?

I have had the privilege to serve as a prefect in our beloved college for two years. Even now, I still recall the words I wrote in my letter of application for this job. I promised my service with full heart and dedication to Stanstead.

We humans crave and seek forms of stability, whether it comes from an environment, one or many individuals or even an object. Before Stanstead, I was a 14-year-old girl unaware of what awaited me after the doors of high school shut and even more unaware of what and where I would be living each year of my remaining years of high school. Here’s a little background information: I have been hopping from one place to another since the beginning of my existence. Heading into my Grade 10 year, I wanted to know what the environment of my next three years of high school would look like.

This is my fourth year at Stanstead College, but I still remember the first day when I came to Stanstead. I’m sure people who were here in 2020 would remember what that year was like. It was really different from now due to the sudden outbreak of COVID-19. Everything was unorganized and unfamiliar. Due to the pandemic, my flight got delayed, and I had to take online classes for the two months of my first year at Stanstead.

I hope it is true when I say that everybody in this room has been shaped by the kindness of another person. Whether this person is a friend, a parent, a sibling, a teacher, or even a stranger, there is no denying the positive impact that kindness leaves on you. And there is also no denying the impact you can leave on the world by simply being nice to someone else.

I want to talk about something that all of us students in Quebec struggle with daily during this time of year. The sun comes out late and goes down early, dangerously low temperature where you can’t be outside for more than five minutes without getting frostbite, and on top of that, winter depression.

You know how you feel when you haven’t slept enough. You can’t get up in the morning, you can’t stay awake during class, you have no energy for sports in the afternoon. It feels like you’re not your best self and your only goal is going to sleep as quickly as possible…

I spent the first twelve years of my life in the comfort of my parents’ home north of Quebec City, where, I must admit, I had everything I needed on a “silver plate.” My life was pretty easy! The decision to come to Stanstead College in Grade 7 was mine, and my parents fully supported me in that choice.

Returning to your boarding school after the long pause might be a happy event for some, but it’s a drag for many. I’d even say some teachers and staff feel the same about returning after these holiday celebrations. Maybe you’ve visited your family and friends in another country. If you’re an international student, you might be experiencing a huge temperature change (from hot Mexico to cold Canada) or being jet-lagged after a long flight from Asia. If you’re a day student, all the stories about exotic locations can feel endless to listen to. It doesn’t help that winter, with its low temperatures and often grey skies, will be here for the next months…

I bet I am not the only one who says, “I can’t do this,” or “I’m not good at that.” We tend to be negative when faced with challenges, setbacks or failures. However, the key to unlocking our true potential is to cultivate a growth mindset.