World War One was one of the bloodiest, deadliest wars that killed millions and injured way more. It caused mass destruction across the entirety of Europe and has been a key factor in Canadian history. During WWI, Canada played a significant role as a member of the Allied Powers. The war had a lasting impact on Canada, shaping the country and its identity in ways that are still evident today. From the sacrifices made by Canadian soldiers on the battlefield to the changes in Canadian society and economy, the effects of WWI can still be felt in Canada a century later. This was the topic of the grade 9 exhibition this year, so join me as I take you through the different stages of creating it.
After our Nationalism project, we swiftly moved into what would be the highlight of our grade’s exhibition, World War 1 Comic Books. When first introduced to this project, I thought it would be an easy, fun, end-of-year assignment, but boy was I wrong. The instructions were to make a WW1 comic book about a battle/event that had taken place, with full details and everything. It was a tracing assignment, so in my mind that meant less drawing time, but I decided that I was going to go the extra mile, I was going to freehand draw the entire thing! Am I good at drawing? No. Because I had a stellar idea? Somewhat. Because I like to make things challenging for myself. Absolutely. We had to create storyboards before we could start drawing our good copy, so as soon as it was announced, I got started drawing.
My story is about the last day of the war, November 11th, 1918, and is told through 3 different points of view. So not only had I decided to freehand the entire thing, but I had also decided to at 17 more panels than suggested. I realized that I was digging myself into a hole I wasn’t sure if I could get out of, but I had to try. And the moment I finished the storyboards, I jumped head-first into the comic. The rest of the time prior to exhibition was a blur. I only had a week and a half to create my comic, and that had me feeling stressed, using any free time I had to draw. I would stay up late on many occasions to draw, and before I knew it, the dreaded day had arrived.
To say exhibition day was chaotic would be an understatement. All the grade 9’s were instructed to meet in the cafeteria at 3:15, and we quickly came to the conclusion that no one knew what the plan was after. Because we spent all our time on our comics, we didn’t really think about the decor or anything. We all frantically ran around for the next hour and a half trying to organize ourselves. The comics came at 4pm, and everyone dropped everything and excitedly gathered around Miss Madsen to collect them, but mine wasn’t there. The printers didn’t print mine, and that made me freak out. Since I was the only one doing my topic, I was lone in a group, and if I had no comic then why was I even here?! But thankfully Mr. Harris came in clutch and printed out the forgotten comics, and at 5pm, the doors opened, and the presenting started!
In the end, all the stress, late nights, and chaos of exhibition day were worth it. Seeing all the hard work and creativity of my classmates showcased in one room was truly inspiring. Despite the challenges and setbacks, we all came together to create something truly special. The experience of creating my World War 1 comic book taught me the value of perseverance and determination. It showed me that even when things seem impossible, with hard work and dedication, anything is achievable. The lessons learned and memories made during this exhibition will stay with me for a long time. So, here’s to overcoming obstacles, pushing through challenges, and coming out stronger on the other side. Cheers to a successful exhibition and all the growth and learning that came with it!
