Hi everyone, welcome back to my blog

I just finished a project where I wrote a dystopian short story set in a world that has fallen apart. Society feels broken, roads stretch empty, and survival is a constant challenge. I wanted to create a world that felt alive without explaining every detail. Danger and control show through small moments, the cracked highways, distant city domes, and the tense quiet that hangs over every scene. Writing the story made me focus on atmosphere, character decisions, and tension. It taught me a lot about pacing and how to make a world feelreal.

The Heart of the Story

At first I thought the plot would carry the story, but I quickly realized tone mattered more. The narrative felt strongest when danger appeared through quiet moments, a flicker of light across a ruined street, or a shadow that stayed still in the distance. These touches made the world feel dangerous and believable without long explanations.

Reading Fahrenheit 451 during this project gave me perspective on control and pressure. Bradbury showed how censorship and fear can slowly infiltrate a society. Watching V for Vendetta added another layer. The story revealed how acts of resistance, even small gestures, can ripple through a controlled world and inspire hope. Both works shaped the way I thought about the threats in my story as active forces, pressing on every choice the characters make.

Connecting to Modern Issues

The project asked us to consider how dystopian stories reflect current fears. I researched surveillance, government control, and media influence, then compared these dangers to those in my story. Patterns emerged quickly. Power can erode slowly, institutions can fail quietly, and technology can make control easier. These themes connected directly to the story, showing how the fictional world mirrors real fears people face today.

Preparing for the Socratic seminar strengthened my approach. I moved beyond opinions to evidence-based reasoning, linking my story to real examples. This made the story feel grounded and gave me confidence in the ideas I wanted to explore.

Screenshot

The Challenges

Building a believable dystopian world without overwhelming the reader proved difficult. I wanted danger and history to feel present, but too much detail slowed the story. Trusting small hints made tension stronger and kept the narrative moving.

Maintaining a consistent tone across chapters was another challenge. Every scene needed to feel like part of the same cold, tense world. I revised early chapters after finishing later ones to keep the voice steady and the stakes real.

Growth as a Writer

Before this project, I wrote quickly and jumped between ideas. The story forced me to slow down and focus on details that build atmosphere and tension. One strong image often carries more weight than a whole paragraph of explanation. I also learned the value of revision and patience. Tightening sentences and highlighting the strongest ideas revealed my own voice more clearly.

This project connected strongly to my values. Writing about control, fear, and survival pushed me to think about human behavior honestly. Fahrenheit 451 and V for Vendetta reminded me that small choices matter and that courage and awareness can shape outcomes. Using our dystopian checklist and connecting the story to modern fears reinforced how fiction can reflect society thoughtfully. Curiosity, observation, and critical thinking are essential skills for writers and for anyone navigating the world.

If I had to sum up what I learned, it would be this: a story becomes real when every detail carries weight, and its themes matter most when they connect to the world around us.

The Story:

The Bloom

CHAPTER ONE

The wind scraped across the highway signs and left a hollow sound that bounced across the snow. Maeve pulled her hood tight and scanned the horizon. Far away, the dome of New Calgary shimmered behind a pale haze. Even here, she could see the Bloom floating through the air like scattered dust.

She knelt on the frozen asphalt. Yellow lines poked through the ice, leading toward the dome. Her hands trembled. She remembered the first time she drove this road with her family, the car full of boxes and anxious hope.

The wind stopped. Silence settled over the snow. Then a low hum rolled through the fields. Maeve froze. Guides.

She pressed against the road. The cold bit through her coat. A faint light passed over the signs and brushed the edge of her sleeve. Her father’s voice ran through her head. If you see the glow, don’t move. Don’t even breathe.

The beam lingered. The sound buzzed until her teeth ached. Then the light drifted south, disappearing toward the dome.

Maeve exhaled. Her hands shook. The Bloom glittered faintly in the air, dust floating like smoke.

She rose and walked toward the hills. The snow crunched under her boots. The air carried a strange sweetness, like rotting flowers. 

By the ridge she saw smoke. Her father sat by a small fire, blankets wrapped around him. The rifle rested across his knees.

“You took too long,” Hank said.

“Guides on the highway,” she replied. “They’re moving north again.”

He nodded. “Searching for another camp.”

Maeve crouched near the fire. Sparks drifted into the cold air.

“The Bloom spreads faster,” Hank said. “South wind brought more spores from the dome. Maybe even past the mountains.”

“I saw it,” Maeve said. “Thicker than last week.”

He leaned forward. “We need to move soon. North maybe. Somewhere it hasn’t reached.”

She laughed shortly. “There’s nowhere it hasn’t reached.”

He didn’t answer.

After a long pause she asked, “Do you ever think about before?”

Hank’s eyes softened. “Every day.”

The fire popped. The Bloom floated overhead like falling ash. Maeve tried not to think of her mother in the city, pale eyes glazed over, tethered to the Core. Stage Two, maybe Stage Three. No coming back.

“The Bloom started as medicine,” Hank said quietly. “It was supposed to help people. Make them feel better.”

“I know,” she said.

“They wanted peace. The Core gave it to them. The cost was too high.”

Maeve stared at the dome. The light pulsed like a heartbeat. The Bloom drifted through the air, tying everything together until nothing felt separate anymore.

CHAPTER TWO

By dawn the fire had burned down to orange embers. Thin strands of Bloom floated through the pines. Maeve packed her gear while her father kicked the ashes into the snow. The smoke drifted and vanished.

They rarely spoke in the mornings anymore.

“Road’s clear east,” Hank said. “We move before the sun climbs. Snow will hide our tracks if we’re lucky.”

Maeve nodded and slung her pack over her shoulder. “Think the Guides are close?”

“Always.”

They followed the ridge through the trees. Snow cracked under their boots. The forest felt quiet but alive, each branch vibrating faintly. The Bloom caught the morning light and turned the air a pale gold.

After an hour they reached a ruined rest stop. The parking lot cracked and buried in snow. The gas station leaned to one side. The sign hung from a single chain, letters faded to white.

Hank crouched by a vending machine and brushed the frost from the glass. Plastic wrappers floated in frozen slush. “Nothing left,” he muttered.

Maeve walked a few steps toward a soft sound. Uneven breathing.

“Dad,” she whispered.

He moved beside her, rifle ready. The sound came from behind a collapsed wall. Maeve stepped closer.

A figure slumped against the concrete. A torn coat wrapped their body. Skin glowed faintly blue beneath thin veins. Stage One.

“Please,” the figure whispered. “You’re not connected. Help me.”

Maeve dropped to her knees. “When were you infected?”

“Two weeks. Maybe three. I can still think. They promised peace.”

Hank crouched beside her. “We can’t stay. You know what comes next.”

Maeve met his eyes. “We can’t leave him.”

Hank hesitated. “Name?”

“Jonas. Medic near the dome. They said spores were safe. Then the water changed. Everyone changed. Guides took the crew. Said it was for adjustment.”

“Adjustment,” Hank said. “Surgery. They cut the part that resists.”

Jonas gripped Maeve’s hand. “Don’t let them take me.”

“We won’t,” she promised.

“There’s a ranger station north. One night only,” Hank said.

They lifted Jonas, dragging him through the snow. The sun broke through clouds pale and thin. Trees shimmered faintly in the Bloom dust.

Jonas whispered again. “It used to be beautiful. When the Core came online. People smiled. No fighting. Everyone agreed.”

Maeve asked, “What changed?”

“Nothing,” he said. “That was the problem.”

The forest stretched ahead. Each tree traced with faint veins of light.

At the ridge above the ranger station, Maeve froze. Smoke rose from the chimney.

Hank’s hand went to his rifle. “We are not alone.”

Jonas barely stirred. “What if they’re like us?”

“No one is like us anymore,” Hank said.

Then the hum began. 

CHAPTER THREE

The hum deepened, vibrating through the frozen ground. It felt alive, uneven and heavy.

“Down,” Hank said.

They pressed behind a fallen tree. Snow slid over their coats. The ranger station flickered below in pale blue.

Guides.

Maeve had seen them, but never this close. Mirrored masks, precise movements. Veins pulsed with faint light.

One carried a scanner. Soft beeps rolled through the air, lighting snow in ghostly blue.

“Two outside,” Hank whispered. “Maybe more inside.”

Jonas stirred beside them, breath shallow. His veins glowed brighter.

“They’ll see him,” Maeve said.

“I’ll draw them off,” Hank said. “You take Jonas north. Follow the ridge.”

“No-”

“Maeve.” His eyes locked on hers. “You know what happens if they catch you.”

The Guides spread out. The hum climbed.

Hank pressed her shoulder. “Keep west. Stay low. Don’t stop until dark.”

Before she could answer he sprinted down the slope. A shot cracked through the trees. The Guides turned, blue visors flashing.

“Dad-”

“Go!” he shouted.

Maeve dragged Jonas up the ridge. Snow exploded beneath the Guides’ boots. The first bolt of light seared close to her. She ducked behind a stump.

Hank stood alone below, firing. One fell, another replaced it instantly.

A voice floated across the trees.

“Resistance detected. Emotional interference classified as malignant. Extraction authorized.”

The Bloom lit the clearing like liquid light. Hank raised his rifle one last time. Then white.

The shockwave threw Maeve backward. When the light faded, the clearing was empty. Only faint shimmer of spores remained.

Jonas groaned. “He’s gone.”

Maeve stayed silent. The forest was quiet again. Only the wind whispered through the trees.

Her gloves glowed faintly. The Bloom pulsed like a heartbeat.

“Come on,” she whispered. “We have to move.”

The sky above New Calgary rippled. Blue light ran across the dome. The Core had noticed.

CHAPTER FOUR

The trail was barely visible, buried under weeks of snow and frost. Maeve dragged Jonas forward, ignoring the ache in her shoulders. Each step cracked loudly in the quiet, but the wind carried the sound away.

Through a stand of dark pines, rough cabins appeared. Smoke curled from the chimneys. Shadows moved near the doors. Someone was alive. Someone outside the Core.

“Rebels,” Maeve whispered. ]

A figure stepped from behind a cabin, rifle raised. He froze when he saw them. “Stop! Don’t move!”

Maeve raised her hands. “I’m Maeve. My father… he’s gone. We need shelter. Please.”

The man glanced at Jonas, then back at her. After a tense moment he lowered the rifle. “Inside. Quickly.”

The cabin smelled of smoke, wet fur, and cooked food. People moved between small fires and patched wounds. Eyes shone bright against the pale world. Some were immune. Some partly immune.

Maeve lowered Jonas to a bedroll. “Stage One,” she said. “Barely infected. He needs help.”

A woman stepped forward, older, with streaks of grey in her hair. “I’m Dr. Viera. Stage One can still resist if we act fast. You were smart to get him out of the snow.”

Maeve’s shoulders sagged. “My father… Hank.”

Viera’s eyes softened. “He saved you both. But you need to understand. You’re running from more than Guides. The Core. The Bloom. Everything in New Calgary watches.”

“I’m sorry?” Maeve asked.

Viera gestured to a map pinned on the wall. Lines ran between cities. Dots pulsed like veins. “The Core was made by EirGene. It started as mental health therapy, a viral empathy network. Governments wanted stability. They let it spread. Then it mutated. The Bloom became self-sustaining.”

Maeve’s stomach churned. “And the Guides?”

“They are citizens,” Viera said flatly. “Stage Three. Controlled. They hunt anyone not Harmonized. They remove the part that resists. Once it’s gone… there is no return.”

Jonas shivered. “Like my crew…”

Maeve clenched her fists. “Then we stop it.”

Viera studied her. “You’re rare. Partly immune people resist longer. But now the Core will come for you too. As soon as it senses you, New Calgary will send more Guides.”

Maeve swallowed hard. She looked at Jonas and remembered her father’s last words: Keep west. Don’t stop until dark.

Through the frost-covered window, she saw the dome shimmer in the distance. Beautiful. Terrifying. Alive in ways no one asked for.

Maeve straightened. “Then we fight.”

Viera nodded. “First, we survive the night.”

CHAPTER FIVE

The fire in the rebel outpost had barely burned down when Maeve and Jonas were ready. Dr. Viera handed her a small pack of supplies. Food, a thermal blanket, and a crude map of the city streets and service tunnels.

“Your father made it this far on instinct,” Viera said, her voice low and urgent. “You’ll need more than instinct to survive the Core. Stage Two and Stage Three citizens patrol constantly. They respond to sound, movement, even the faintest emotional signal. The Bloom feels fear. It senses hope. It will find you.”

Maeve nodded. Her stomach tightened. She had lost Hank. Now survival rested on her shoulders. “We move at first light.”

Jonas shivered, rubbing his arms. “Do we really have to go inside?”

Maeve looked at him. Blue veins traced faint lines beneath his skin. “Yes. If we don’t, the Core will find us anyway. We either fight now or disappear.”

Before dawn they slipped into the snow, moving along a ridge that overlooked New Calgary. The dome shimmered faintly in the weak light. The city pulsed with Bloom dust drifting over streets and rooftops.

The streets below were empty and quiet. Stage Two citizens moved in careful, mechanical patterns. Faces calm, blank, veins glowing faintly. Maeve’s stomach twisted when she spotted him – Eli. Her brother. Pale, moving in rhythm with the city.

“Keep low,” she whispered, pressing Jonas close. Every footstep mattered. Every breath could alert the Guides, Stage Three citizens hunting anyone not fully Harmonized.

A faint hum rolled across the streets, vibrating through the frozen ground. Maeve froze. Jonas stumbled, and she yanked him behind a crate just as a Guide’s visor swept past, scanning.

“They detect anyone with resistance,” Maeve whispered. “Stage One or partly immune people like you,” she said, glancing at Jonas, “we can hide, but we can’t slow down.”

They moved through alleys and service tunnels, tracing Viera’s path on the map. The Core’s presence pressed in from all sides. Bloom pulsed through the air, seeped into walls, touched the veins of citizens.

Stage Two citizens appeared along the way. Some paused, hesitated. For a moment, a memory of themselves flickered through the Core’s control. Maeve’s chest tightened. She whispered to Jonas, “We can’t save everyone, but we have to try.”

Finally, they reached the first checkpoint. A gate lined with scanners, patrol drones hovering above. The metal thrummed. The Core pulsed through the ground and into her bones.

Maeve knelt beside Jonas, checking his pack. “Step by step. Survive this. Then we fight.”

The dome above pulsed faintly. Somewhere inside, Eli moved. The Core already knew they were there.

Maeve straightened. “No turning back.”

CHAPTER SIX

The scanners whined softly as Maeve and Jonas crouched behind the last barrier. The dome loomed above them, pulsing like a heartbeat. The Core’s hum wasn’t just sound anymore. It vibrated in the air, seeped into her skin.

Jonas shifted, breath fogging. “How do we get through that?”

Maeve pulled a pulse jammer from her pack – one of Viera’s last working tools. “Fast. Thirty seconds tops.”

He swallowed. “And if it fails?”

She gave a faint smile. “Then we improvise.”

The jammer pulsed. The metal gate shuddered. Drones flickered midair. Maeve shoved the gate open.

They sprinted inside.

The air hit them. Damp. Heavy with ozone and decay. Veins of light traced the walls, pulsing in rhythm with Maeve’s heartbeat.

Everything was too quiet.

Empty streets stretched ahead, lined with towers webbed in faint white tendrils. Snow shimmered faintly, as if it had absorbed the Bloom’s pulse.

Jonas whispered, “Are we… inside it?”

Maeve looked up. The dome wasn’t above them. It was them. Bloom threaded through streets, buildings, citizens.

“Not yet,” she said. “The Core’s deeper.”

They followed tunnels mapped by Viera – maintenance shafts, abandoned flood channels, where Bloom light pooled like liquid. The hum grew stronger, forming patterns. Almost words.

Then a voice:

“Maeve Smith. You’ve come far.”

She froze. “Jonas, did you hear-”

“Your mother is waiting.”

Her stomach twisted. “It’s the Core,” she whispered. “It knows us.”

Jonas scanned the tunnel walls. “How?”

“You carry pieces of me,” the voice said. “Cells, thoughts, pain. I know you.”

Maeve gritted her teeth. “Then you know why I’m here.”

“To destroy me. Like your father tried.”

Her breath caught.

The tunnel widened into a massive chamber. Walls seemed to breathe. At the centre, the Core floated – a glowing structure in liquid light. Cables and roots spread through the floor like veins.

Jonas stepped forward. “It’s… alive.”

Maeve barely heard him. Her eyes locked on a pod at the base. Inside, drifting in faint blue light, was Eli.

She pressed a hand to the glass. “Eli?”

His eyes opened. Light pulsed beneath his skin, in rhythm with the Core. “You shouldn’t have come. You can still join us. You don’t have to feel this anymore.”

Maeve shook her head. “That’s not living, Eli. That’s being erased.”

“We removed pain,” the Core said. “We ended fear, hunger, war. Isn’t that what you wanted?”

Maeve looked at the shifting heart of the Core. “You didn’t cure pain. You just numbed it. There’s a difference.”

The Core’s hum deepened. Pods opened. Stage Three citizens stepped out. Silent. Eyes glowing white.

Jonas raised his weapon. “Maeve-”

She held the detonator tightly. Her father’s voice echoed in her head.

We’re supposed to feel, Maeve. That’s what makes us human.

She turned to Eli. “I’m sorry.”

And pressed the trigger.

Light exploded, flooding the chamber. Wind. Thunder. Voices gasping all at once. Bloom recoiled, writhing across walls, its light flickering out.

The Core whispered one final time:

“Without me… you’ll suffer again.”

Maeve closed her eyes.  “We’ll learn.”

Hi everyone, welcome back to my blog! I know it’s been a solid 24 hours since my last post, but that means we are already onto our next project, titled “Welcome to Gilead!”. In this project, we will be exploring dystopian stories, with the final product being our own short dystopian story. 

The Journey So Far

We started by watching V for Vendetta, a film based on Alan Moore’s 1980s graphic novel. Even though it was made after 9/11, its warnings about propaganda and government control still feel very relevant today. While watching, we identified some key traits of dystopian societies: 

• Propaganda is used to control citizens
• Independent thought and freedom are restricted
• A single leader or concept is worshipped
• Constant surveillance
• Fear of the outside world
• Dehumanization and conformity
• Nature is distrusted or destroyed
• The society appears “perfect,” but isn’t

We also learned that a dystopian protagonist often begins feeling trapped, but gradually starts questioning the system, like Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games. 

Next, we’re connecting these fictional societies to the real world. I’ll be reading Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, which has a theme of censorship and the dangers of silencing ideas. I’m very curious to see how it connects to modern issues that we can see right now all over the word. 

“Strength Through Unity, Unity Through Faith.” – V for Vendetta

My Statement of Learning Intent: 

For this project, I want to strengthen my Critical Thinking.

I will strengthen my Critical Thinking skills by analyzing how dystopian fiction reflects modern issues such as freedom. I’ll use my Agency to take initiative in researching and forming my own interpretations, and Self-Regulation to stay organized with my notes and meet each project checkpoint on time.

Critical thinking matters to me because it helps me look beyond the surface. It pushes me to ask why certain systems, exist, why people follow them, and why others resist. As both a learner and a storyteller, I want to use this mindset to create stories that make people think. 

Looking Ahead

I’m excited to see how my understanding of dystopias grows as I read Fahrenheit 451 and start building my own story. I want my final piece to reflect how critical thinking helps uncover truth, even in worlds built on lies. 

Hi everyone, welcome back to my blog. We just finished a project exploring authoritarianism and how democracies can protect themselves. The end product for this project was to create a documentary explaining how we can prevent authoritarianism in our societies. My groups specific goal was to show how institutions like courts, schools, and the media can be threatened when one party gains too much power, and why it’s so important for citizens to stay informed and engaged. Through research, interviews, and creating our documentary, we wanted to bring these ideas to life and make them especially easy to understand. 

What is Authoritarianism?

When we first started on this project, I thought that I had a decent idea of what authoritarianism looked like. It my mind, it was something that only existed in history books or far off countries. But as we dove deeper into researching this project, I began to realize how close it can sit beneath the surface of a democracy.

The most powerful thing I learned was that democracy doesn’t collapse with one big event or revolution, it wears down slowly, as explained in Timothy Snyder’s lessons on Tyranny. 

Timothy Snyder’s lessons on Tyranny

My Section:

As mentioned earlier, my section focused on institutions, and how protecting them, like courts, the media, and schools, can protect democracy. Writing this part about institutions made me look at power a different way. Of course politicians sometimes don’t like media, but it is still their job to not censor or change it in any way. In making this documentary, Logan and I co-wrote our script, giving Brooke plenty of detail to make our idea into reality. I also interviewed Mr. Hughes with Silas and Chris, as well as finding B-roll that goes with the script. Mr. Hughes is a very big traveller, and his adventures have taken him all the way to North Korea, a country under an authoritarian dictator. When asked questions about the country, he recalled how weird it was to be somewhere where you were constantly monitored and controlled. 

The Challenges:

There were definitely challenges in the making of our documentary; everyone had different opinions on what to include, especially when comparing past and present governments. It was easy to go too far or not far enough. What helped was stepping back and asking what messages we want to send. Reminding ourselves that we were focusing on institutions helped make our section stronger. 

This project helped me grow as a researcher and communicator. Researching this project was difficult because we were dealing with peoples opinions, and also some peoples traumatic experiences. Communicating with my group was difficult at first but then became easier and easier as we learned how we work together and can make a successful project. 

Democracy:

I used to think democracy was just about voting or following Alaws, but it’s really about people paying attention. Education matter because it builds critical thinking, and that’s what keeps citizens aware. The moment we stop questioning what we’re told, democracy started to thin out. 

Looking back, this project connected strongly to my vision and values. It reminded me that curiosity and honesty matter more than certainty. I want to keep learning about systems like this because understanding them feels like a way to protect something bigger than myself. 

If I had to sum up everything I learned, I’d say this: 

Democracy doesn’t survive by accident. It survives because people decide it’s worth the effort.

Here is the finished product:

There’s a difference between learning about something and learning from something. 

Learning about something usually means a slideshow, a few notes, maybe a video if your teacher’s feeling generous. But learning from something? That’s different. It’s stepping into a place, listening to the stories it holds, and realizing that this learning doesn’t leave when you do. 

That’s what Haida Gwaii was for me.

The Trip

A few weeks ago, we went to Haida Gwaii. We went to every major town, and even all the way down to Gwaii Haanas, a special national park. We met people who carry generations of knowledge, talked to people who were arrested during the Lyell island protests, and saw Haida Watchmen sites. 

It was beautiful there. The ecosystem is something that could only be described as different yet the same, something you’ll only ever understand if you go there. 

Despite the trip being so incredible, you could go for no reason, we add a couple things that we were watching out for. We went to learn about Haida Gwaii’s Reconciliation, learn about their culture, and of course, have a once in a lifetime experience.

During the trip, we were asked to keep a scrapbook with prompts for each page. Here is mine:

The Activation 

When we got home from the trip, we were asked to create something that could bring our learning to life. An activation! An activation is something that makes people stop, think, and feel activated to learn, reflect, or act. 

That is what ReconciliACTION is all about. 

So for our final exhibition, I decided to build a giant 3D map of Haida Gwaii. 

This part of the project was not a group effort, I did this part myself. One big piece of plywood and lots of moss later, I had a beautiful map. I was incredibly proud of the final product, but I couldn’t be more proud of the process I took to get there. 

Meanwhile, my group were focused on the Big Tide Low Water agreement, the Golden Spruce, and the protests. As people walked through the exhibition, we explained the stories we learned. In Haida Gwaii. And together, we all presented the present and future of Reconciliation. 

What I Learned

• Reconciliation isn’t something you study, finish, or move on from. We saw that it the agreements being made, that it is a process. 
• The land speaks the truth. In Gwaii Haanas especially, you can feel the stories before you hear them. 
• Creation is a form of respect. For some people, building the map might have just been to show where things were. But for me, it was all about honouring what the land represents. 
• The future depends on what we do now. If we listen, ask question, and even just show up, we contribute to Reconciliation. 

Final Thought

This project didn’t end when the exhibition did, it keeps on going. Reconciliation isn’t about doing everything perfectly, it’s about choosing to act with care. 

I built a map, yes. But more than that, I built connections with everyone I talked to. 

👋 Hey everyone, and welcome! This is my TPOL blog post, and the goal of it is to reflect on the big question:

📍 Why am I ready to move on to the next grade?

To begin and answer that question, let’s first revisit my VMV. 

🎯 My Vision, Mission, and Values

🧗‍♀️ Vision

My goal for graduation is to feel:

• ✅ Accomplished
• ✅ Balanced
• ✅ Confident in myself and what I’ve learned

Since my MPOL, I’ve made real progress:

• I raised my grades
• Qualified for climbing nationals
• Learned how to stay balanced

You know something that helped a lot? Things.

Things is an app that helps me break projects into smaller, more doable steps.

🌍 Mission

I wanted to recognize the value of people’s lived experiences, not just facts on paper.

That came to life in our Spring Exhibition on Reconciliation.

My group shared the present and future of Reconciliation, and I worked hard to make sure the people behind the stories were honoured.

🧭 Values

Agency:

• ✅ I will seek help when needed.
• ✅ I will take ownership and responsibility in my learning.
• ✅ I will always accept feedback and revise with a smile on my face.

Preparation:

• ✅ I will use my out-of-class time effectively.
• ✅ I will use Things to track my assignments from the start of each project.
• ✅ I will update my calendar with dedicated homework and studying slots.

Communication & Collaboration:

• ✅ I will be independent in my learning.
• ✅ I will communicate when I need help.
• ✅ I will maintain a good school/sports/life balance.

⚖️ A Quick Word About Balance

Balance is hard.

One week this year, I had:

• 🧗‍♀️ 2 climbing sessions
• 🚣 1 rowing regatta
• 📝 3 assignments
• 🤧 and a cold

Past me would’ve forced through everything.

This year, I paused. Cancelled one training, caught up on sleep, and still got 100% on my BCFP assignment.

That taught me:

Balance is knowing when to cut back, not push harder.

📚 Work I’m Proud Of

BCFP – Reconciliation Exhibition

We told the story of Reconciliation’s present and future.

I was most proud of building Haida Gwaii out of moss and plywood, and how our group managed our time and message.

Humanities – Macbeth Confessionals

I created 4 confessional videos based on a Macbeth character.

I focused on voice, tone, and deeper meaning, and it showed in the feedback.

✨ Growth Since MPOL

Here were my goals back then:

🚀 Goals for Next Year

🎓 Big Goal #1: Get Into UBC

Mini Goals

• ✅ Sept: Choose top 3 programs
• ✅ Oct: Write + revise personal profile
• ✅ Nov: Submit early
• ✅ Maintain 96%+ in core courses
• ✅ Prepare for uni life

🧗 Big Goal #2: Make Semis at Nationals

Mini Goals

• ✅ Summer: 5-day training schedule
• ✅ July: Track strength (campus, hangs, etc.)
• ✅ August: Do weekly mock comps
• ✅ Fall: Compete locally, reflect
• ✅ Winter: Optimize recovery/sleep
• ✅ Comp Day: Stick to routine, perform with confidence

🎉 So… Why Am I Ready?

• I know how I learn best
• I’ve built systems that actually work
• I can juggle climbing, school, and life, and improve at all three
• I feel better right now than at the end of any past year

They say life moves forward. Cool. Good for life.

Mine? Not so much. For a while, it felt like everything had stalled. I was stuck in the cycle; school stress, training, exhaustion, rinse and repeat. My mind was going 100 km/h while my body was waving the white flag. And that feeling, the mix of burnout, pressure, and trying to hold it all together, became the life of the slam poem that I decided to create for this project.

First though, let me explain. 

Why a Slam Poem?

Slam poetry doesn’t ask you to be polished. It asks you to be real. And that’s what I needed this project to be. I wanted to write and show people something that reflected all the parts of my life that feel big, complicated, overwhelming, and the things that keep me grounded through it all.

Things like:

• Climbing
• Rowing
• Skiing, school, music

So that’s what I wrote about. Not just the activities I love, but the mental push and pull that comes with them. And through writing, I started to realize something important: maybe the goal isn’t always about reaching the top. Maybe sometimes, it’s about finding your footing.

Project Breakdown

This wasn’t just a “write something and wing it” type of assignment, which I was happy about. I had a plan, and I stuck to it, which was something that I needed to work on, however, I did it very well in this project. 

Here’s how I made it work:

• Monday class: Outline done.
• Monday night: First two verses done.
• Tuesday class: Halfway through the rough draft.
• Tuesday night: Training. Poem break.
• Wednesday: Full rough draft + feedback.
• Thursday: Final edits woo!

I tracked everything in Things, which helped me stay on top of deadlines and not panic. 

Whale Songs

Okay, I can’t talk about this project without shouting out one of the best in class activities I have EVER done. Writing a hit song for whales with my friend Dylan.  

Here’s the entire poem:

I’m just a whale 

It might start to hail

But im underwater

With my baby daughter

And i got barnacles on my chin

Wish they could go in the bin

Damn they even on my fin

Today i saw a shark

Down here in the dark

Got scared but then I founds

I’m 300 thousand pounds 

Got a powerful tail

I eat shrimp cuz they so frail

Gentle giant

I swear im not defiant 

That’s why people love me

They think im cuddly

Wish i could fly

Up in the sky

But this is what i get

Might as well be happy as of yet

My highlight from this entire project was getting up in front of everyone and performing this. If you know me, you know I’m an introvert, so just imagine me doing high pitched whale noises with a tune, and Dylan rapping this. That’s what writing is all about. Having fun while finding your voice!

What I Learned

This project taught me a lot about writing, about myself, and about how the things I love can both challenge me and keep me steady. Some key takeaways:

• Writing is hard. But writing honestly? Even harder. And even more worth it.
• Planning ahead really helps.
• Writing doesn’t have to be neat to be powerful.

The Poem

Before I show you the poem, I just want to say that I didn’t have to choose a poem. I chose it because it is difficult for me, and I really wanted to show who I am honestly. It was very difficult to write, but here it is nonetheless:

They said life moves forward, but mine felt stuck,

Stuck in the cycle, stuck in the stress,

Sick days piling up. 

My body whispered slow down, but my mind screamed keep up.

Schoolwork got messy, equations blurred together,

And no matter what I did,

How hard I worked

How high I climbed

The grades, the ones that used to rise, 

Kept falling. 

So why do I climb? 

Why do I grab onto plastic holds, 

Press my feet against tiny edges, 

Trust the footholds when I couldn’t trust myself? 

Why do I row? 

Why do I pull against the weight of the water 

When I felt like I was drowning? 

I don’t know. 

Then, somewhere between physics formulas and piano scales,

Between the sweat 

Between the cold 

Between the extending handed back, 

I started to feel it. 

The shift. 

The moment where I learned

The climb that wasn’t just about reaching the top, 

But finding steady ground. 

The stroke that wasn’t just rowing, 

But proof. 

Proof that I could still rise. 

Hands gripping, oars pulling, 

I felt here. 

Not just moving forward,

But going somewhere.

Ideally, med school!

The Writer Behind the Poem

I enjoy writing about the world, both the one I live in, and the ones I explore in books. My favourite things to write are books, essays, and most of all, speeches, because I enjoy public speaking, and sharing my ideas with the world. 

Some of the moments that have shaped me most as a writer have been challenges. When I broke my arm, my Gran (one of my favourite people in the world) helped me learn to write cursive with my non-dominant hand. In Seattle, I had probably my least favourite writing time ever, but after, I realized it was good for me. During the Sweatbox, I learned that writing is not a quick process, reinforcing the saying “there is not shortcut to success” 

My favourite place to write is the front room of my house, in the left chair, with a bowl of chips, and a glass of water. When I look to my right, I see our colour coordinated mini library. When I look ahead, I see cars and people making their way to work, school, sports, and other activities. When I look to my left, I can see the forest, calming me. This is my experience as a writer. 

Final Thought

Even writing this post has helped me find my voice. If you read my past posts, you’ll find that they are a little different than this one. First of all, Ms. Willemse put in our criteria to break patterns for this post and try something new and exciting. I wanted my post to be less professional, and more like you’re actually talking to me.

I am still learning how to find my voice. How to keep climbing, even when I haven’t yet seen the top. If I keep working and writing in different ways, I know I will find a writing style that suites me. 

Thank you for reading! And please let me know, do you like the style of this post, or do you prefer my other ones. Thanks!

Introduction

Hello everyone! Recently in BC First Peoples, we did a mini project about Status & Indigeneity. We covered the Buffy Sainte-Marie controversy, watched a documentary, and as the final product, we held a full class Talking Circle covering many of the key points of Status & Indigeneity. 

This blog post will cover my reflection from our Talking Circle discussions, thoughts on Buffy Sainte-Marie’s controversy, and how understanding these sensitivities can help us better understand B.C. First Peoples, with the goal of answering the driving question,

“How Might Understanding the Sensitivities Around Indigeneity Help Us Understand B.C. First Peoples?”

Talking Circle Reflections

What does “status” mean in Canada, and how does it shape identity and access to rights and resources?

• Status is a term under the Indian Act, mostly granting rights and benefits to Indigenous peoples registered under the status. 
• Status can help with access to healthcare, education, taxes, and housing. However, it is also a creation of the government that has been historically used to control Indigenous identity. 
• Many Indigenous people do not have status due to restrictive criteria (e.g., enfranchisement, gender discrimination in past laws).
• Many Indigenous people do not have status, because of prior laws, such as gender discrimination. 

Why do some people falsely claim Indigenous identity? What are the consequences?

Motivations:

• Personal gain (e.g., scholarships, grants, job opportunities in Indigenous-specific roles).
• Seeking a sense of belonging to Indigenous culture.
• Lack of understanding about what it means to be Indigenous beyond ancestry.

Consequences:

• Harms real Indigenous communities by taking resources meant for them.
• Disengages the trust and credibility of Indigenous-led initiatives.

This issue is reflected in the recent Buffy Sainte-Marie controversy. To learn more about this, I listened to the Buffy podcast by CBC on Spotify, which is before the controversy. It made for some very interesting listening! Listen here.

How has my understanding of Indigeneity, identity, and authenticity evolved?

Initially, I wasn’t familiar with the term Indigeneity beyond its surface meaning. Through this project, I realized that identity isn’t only about genetics (though that is a big part), it is about community and lived experience. Indigenous identity has a lot of cultural and historical significance, which we just can’t reduce to DNA tests anything else. It’s just not right. 

What is the difference between cultural appreciation and cultural appropriation?

• Cultural Appreciation: Respecting the culture, ties back to our anthropology unit.
• Cultural Appropriation: Taking elements of a culture without permission, understanding, or credit. 

To draw the line, we have to ask these questions I came up with: 

• Is the cultural practice being used with permission and understanding?
• Does it benefit the Indigenous community, or is it extractive?
• Is the context respectful, or does it have harmful stereotypes associated?

Example: Buying beadwork from an Indigenous artist vs. mass-producing Indigenous designs for profit without permission.

How do media and institutions contribute to the problem of false claims to Indigeneity?

Many universities, arts organizations, and government programs have many separate opportunities specifically for Indigenous people, but historically, they did not require proof of Indigenous identity. This lack of verification led to a surge in “Pretendians”, harming Indigenous communities and taking resources away from those who truly need them. A better solution would be requiring multiple forms of Indigenous verification, such as community recognition, family history, and official documentation.

During class, we watched the Fifth Estate episode on Buffy Sainte-Marie, and after that, we made a mind map! Here’s mine:

What responsibility do we have when discussing these issues outside of class?

• We must be respectful, and use an anthropological perspective. 
• We must avoid harmful stereotypes. 
• We must get all sides of the story. 

Three More Discussion Questions

Here are three more discussion questions that I made myself to continue the talking circle discussions.

1. What are some ways non-Indigenous allies can help combat false claims to Indigeneity without overstepping?
2. How should institutions and governments change their policies to ensure Indigenous identity is respected and protected?
3. Do you think we should separate Buffy Sainte-Marie’s music from the controversy surrounding her identity?

Answering the Driving Question

As a reminder the driving question is:

“How Might Understanding the Sensitivities Around Indigeneity Help Us Understand B.C. First Peoples?”

Understanding the many sensitivities around Indigeneity helps us better understand B.C. First Peoples because it shows how many different government policies have shaped Indigenous identity and access to resources. Many Indigenous communities in B.C. have had to fight for their own recognition, land rights, and cultural preservation. Imagine fighting for your own home because someone decided that it was theirs.

As we continue these discussions, we must remember to remain respectful, informed, and open to learning.

Thank you for reading!

Welcome to my Mid-Year Presentation of Learning (MPOL)! This post is meant to show my progress in learning so far this year, connect it to my Vision, Mission, and Values statements (VMV), and answer the question:

“How have I shown growth as a learner so far this year?”

Reflecting on My VMV

At the start of the year, I created a Vision, Mission, and Values (VMV) statement showing what I want to achieve in my learning.

Looking back, I can see areas where I am succeeding and others where I still need improvement, which is okay!

Vision:

One of my goals is to not feel overwhelmed. However, leading up to Winter Break, I felt completely burnt out. I was constantly sick, wasn’t climbing or rowing well, and most importantly, I wasn’t reaching my academic goals.

After the break, I decided to take control of my learning and well-being, and it has paid off! I made finals at a UBC climbing competition, and my schoolwork has improved, with 100s on all my math tests since the break and a 100 in BCFP.

That being said, I know that stress isn’t something that you can live without, a little stress is good!

Mission:

Although we haven’t done much group work this year, I have been achieving my mission by doing some real-world learning. In my BC First Peoples project, I interviewed Xwalacktun, the artist that created the artifact I studied. 

Values:

This rubric shows six success behaviours, with smaller subsections under each category. Let’s use Agency as an example. Under Agency, there are five smaller skills that contribute to the overall behaviour. One thing to remember is that we aren’t graded on these, but if we can achieve all 6 behaviours, we will get better grades.

Agency: ✅ I take responsibility for my learning, ask for help when needed, and accept feedback with a positive mindset.

Preparation: ✅ I stay organized by using Things to track assignments and plan study sessions in advance.

Communication & Collaboration: ⚠️ Still working on balance, but I have learned that rest is just as valuable as training!

Class Progress

BC First Peoples: 💯 on my latest report! I worked hard to conduct an interview and create a Craft page about my chosen artifact.

Check it out here!

Humanities: Currently sitting at a 90%, but I got 💯 on my last project.

How Have I Grown as a Learner?

The biggest change in my learning this year (2025) is how I manage my time, effort, and energy.

Before Winter Break, I felt stressed and unbalanced. Now, I have made changes that have helped me succeed while staying healthy:

1. Learning without a screen – Real-world experiences (like interviews) help my learning a lot.
2. Prioritizing rest and recovery – I don’t need to train every single day to improve.
3. Finding balance – Balancing school, sports, music, and life. 

Goals for the End of the Year

1. End the year with a 95% average and achieve 100% in all PLP courses.
2. Make nationals for climbing.
3. Maintain balance!

I am so proud of the progress I have made, and I know there is still room to grow. This year has taught me a lot about learning, and much of it I will continue to apply in the future.