In an age of digital screens and AI, a handwritten note is something schools should cherish. It slows a student down. It makes them think before they write. It carries their voice in a way nothing else does.This is why our Principal, Ms. Shannon Pipes, started the Principal’s Essay – a weekly initiative inviting students across Grades 6 to 9 to reflect on a thoughtful question.
Week 1 focused on the theme of Identity & Belonging: Who am I becoming, and how does my school community shape who I am today and who I will be in the future? Students were asked to write between 300 and 800 words by hand, submit their work directly to Ms. Pipes’ office, and bring their own personal voice to the page.
Here are four of their reflections, shared in their own words.
Aisha Bukhari, Grade 8A
If someone asked me who I am, I don’t think I could answer in just one sentence. I am still becoming. I am a mix of who I was, who I am now, and who I am trying to be.
When I first came to school, I thought it was just a place to study, get grades, and go back home. Success, to me, meant finishing assignments perfectly and getting high marks. But over time, I realized that school is much more than that. It is not just a building where I learn subjects, it’s a place where I am learning who I am.
My school community has shaped me in ways I didn’t expect. It’s not only the lessons written on the board that matter, but also the moments in between. The laughter with friends, the encouragement from teachers, and even the challenges I face every day have all helped shape the person I am becoming.
One of the biggest changes in me has been my confidence. There were times when I stayed quiet, even when I had something to say. I was afraid of being wrong or being judged. But being surrounded by people who are not afraid to share their thoughts slowly changed me. My teachers encouraged me to participate, and my classmates showed me that speaking up is not about being perfect, it’s about being brave. Now even when I feel nervous, I try to share my ideas. Each time I do, I feel stronger, as if I am slowly finding my voice.
I am also slowly becoming more open minded. In a school community, everyone is different. People have different opinions, backgrounds, and ways of thinking. At first, this can feel uncomfortable. There were moments when I didn’t understand others or didn’t agree with them. But over time, I learned that these differences are important. They don’t divide us, they help us grow. Listening to others has taught me patience and respect. It has shown me that I don’t always have to be right, but I should always be willing to understand.
Friendships have played a huge role in shaping who I am. My friends are not just people I spend time with, they are the people who support me, challenge me, and help me grow. Through them, I’ve learned the importance of kindness, loyalty, and honesty. There have been moments when things weren’t perfect, but even those moments taught me something valuable. They taught me that relationships take effort and understanding, and that being a good friend matters just as much as having one.
My school has also taught me responsibility. It’s not just about finishing homework or studying for tests. It’s about being someone others can rely on. Whether I am working in a group or completing a task on my own, I’ve learned that my actions matter. I’ve learned to take responsibility for my mistakes instead of avoiding them. These lessons are not always easy, but they are helping me become more mature and dependable.
Another important lesson I’ve learned is resilience. There have been times when things didn’t go the way I wanted. Maybe I didn’t do as well on a test, or something didn’t turn out how I expected. In those moments, it’s easy to feel discouraged. But my school community has taught me to keep going. I’ve learned that failure is not the end, it’s a step towards improvement. Every challenge I face helps me grow stronger and more determined.
What makes my school community special is the sense of belonging it gives me. Even though we are all different, we are connected. I feel supported by the people around me, and that support gives me the confidence to keep trying and growing. Knowing that I am not alone makes a big difference in how I see myself and the future.
Looking ahead, I don’t know exactly who I will become, and maybe that’s okay. What matters is that I’m growing every day. I am learning from my experiences, improving little by little, and becoming a better version of myself.
I believe that who I am becoming is shaped not only by my own choices but also by the people around me. My teachers guide me, my friends support me, and my school challenges me to do better. All of these experiences are helping me build my identity.
So maybe I can’t fully answer the question “Who am I becoming?” just yet. But I can say this… I am 100% becoming someone stronger, more confident, and more understanding. I am becoming someone who is not afraid to grow, to learn, and to keep moving forward.
Because in the end, I am not finished becoming who I am. I am still learning, still changing, and still writing my story.. one day at a time.
Hussam, Grade 9B
Every person grows and changes over time because of the experiences and people around them. As I continue through school and life, I can already see how much I am changing as a person. I am becoming someone who is optimistic, respectful, and understanding towards others. My school community has played a major role in shaping who I am today by giving me confidence, exposing me to new opportunities, and helping me discover my passion for technology. Because of these experiences, I believe I will become someone who uses technology to make a positive impact in the future.
One of the most important qualities I am developing is optimism. Even when situations are difficult, I try to look at the positive side and encourage others to do the same. I also believe that being respectful and understanding towards others is very important. I always try to place myself in other peoples shoes so that I can better understand their struggles and emotions. Everyone faces challenges in life, and by understanding others, I have learned how important kindness and empathy truly are. These qualities help me build stronger relationships with people around me.
My experiences in different schools have also shaped the person I am becoming. In the past, I attended schools where most of our learning resources were books, and we often had to rely on creativity and imagination to complete our work. Although we did not always have advanced technology, those experiences taught me how to think creatively and solve problems independently. Now, attending this amazing school has opened my mind to endless possibilities that I had never imagined before. I have been introduced to opportunities and resources that have completely changed the way I view learning and the future.
My school community has made me more confident and happier because I feel included, respected, and valued as part of this community. Teachers and students encourage one another, and this has helped me grow both academically and personally. Being surrounded by supportive people motivates me to work harder and believe in myself more every day. I have learned that confidence grows when you feel encouraged and accepted by those around you.
Another major way my school community has shaped me is through technology. Having access to technology that was not previously available to me has opened my eyes to the incredible possibilities of the modern world. Technology has become part of my everyday life, and I have seen many positive impacts from it. For example, carrying a lighter bag has improved my comfort and posture.
One of the most exciting opportunities my school has provided is robotics and coding class (electives). This class has changed the way I think about the future. It has shown me how technology can improve people’s lives and solve real world problems. I have learnt that coding and robotics is not only about machines or computers, but also about helping people in different fields such as medicine, education, and security. I am especially inspired by how technology can assist people who are unable to help themselves. Seeing these advancements has made me realize how powerful innovation can be when it is used for positive purposes.
Looking toward the future, I can clearly see how my school community is shaping the person I want to become. I have developed a strong interest in the technological world, especially in areas such as cybersecurity and software development. Technology can bring many amazing opportunities, but it can also be dangerous if it is not used responsibly. Because of this, I want to work in cybersecurity. Another dream of mine is to become a software developer and create programs that solve problems and make life easier for people from all backgrounds and abilities.
In conclusion, my school community has had a huge impact on who I am becoming today and who I hope to be in the future. It has helped me become more optimistic, respectful, confident, and open minded. Through technology, coding, robotics, and the support from my teachers and peers, I have discovered passions and opportunities that inspire me every day. I believe that the experiences I am having now are preparing me to become someone who will use technology to create a positive change in the world.
Mariam, Grade 9A
What I didn’t realize, my future was being built in the hallway between second period and break. There was no big announcement or dramatic moment. Just friends laughing, someone rushing to class, and a teacher reminding us about homework. Ordinary moments, nothing special. The kind of moments people forget. Yet I have begun to understand that these ordinary moments shape us the most. The feeling reminds me of the words by Emily Dickinson, “Forever is composed of nows.” And every single one of them is quietly shaping who I am becoming.
When people think about school, they often imagine grades, exams, and textbooks. But school is much more than lessons on paper. It is a community that slowly transforms us. Every day feels like standing at the beginning of a road, which brings to mind lines from the poem by Robert Frost, “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both, and be one traveler, long I stood and looked down as far as I could, To where it bent in the undergrowth…” At school we choose roads constantly. We choose whether to try or stay silent, whether to help or ignore, whether to give up or keep going. These choices may feel small, but they build the person we become step by step. I used to think courage meant winning competitions or getting perfect grades, but school has taught me that real courage is raising your hand when you are unsure, asking questions, and trying again after making mistakes.
My school community has also helped me discover that identity is not built alone. Teachers see potential we may not see yet. Friends encourage us when we feel uncertain. Classmates challenge our ideas and help us grow. This idea calls to the words of Walt Whitman, “I am large, I contain multitudes.” Everyday we discover these multitudes within ourselves. The quiet student becomes confident during presentations. The shy classmate becomes a leader in group work. The person who once believed they were not good at a subject suddenly succeeds. School reveals parts of us we never knew existed.
Another powerful lesson my school community has taught me is belonging. Belonging does not mean being the same as everyone, it means being accepted while still growing. Everyone around us is still learning and changing at the same time, and that shared journey creates hope. It reminds me of the lines we have studied by Emily Dickinson, “Hope is the thing with feathers — that perches in the soul — And sings the tune without the words — and never stops — At all —.” Hope lives in classrooms more than we realize. It lives in applause after presentations, in the smile of a teacher when we understand something difficult, and the encouragement of friends who remind us not to give up.
But there is still more too. School has also taught me responsibility and kindness. Deadlines, teamwork, and expectations remind me that my actions affect not only my success but the success of others. Helping a classmate, sharing notes, or offering encouragement can change someone’s entire day or mood. These lessons aren’t just school skills, they are life skills that will guide us to a better future.
One day, we will leave these halls and follow different paths. We will choose different careers, achieve other goals. But no matter where, or what the lessons we learned in these very halls here will travel with us. Further than we will ever know. The confidence to speak, the courage it took to try, the kindness we chose to give to help others, and support them. And the belief that we can keep growing will stay with us wherever we go.
School is not just a place we attend, it is a place building us every single day. We may think simply passing through school is shaping the person who will walk into the future. Every ordinary moment today is shaping the extraordinary person we shall all become one day.
I would like to add in one more poem about becoming, also said by Walt Whitman:
“I celebrate myself, and sing myself, And what I assume you shall assume, For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.”
Sana, Grade 9A
Who am I? If you’ve asked me in 7th grade, I would give you a simple answer: I want to be a fashion designer. No details, no explanation. I simply did not know anything about it other than it is clothes related. But now as a 9th grader standing at the edge of high school, I am starting to realize that my answer has more details now.
I am not a finished product yet. I am in the process. For now I would say that I wanna open a business in fashion design, and at the same time, be a successful lawyer. Every single day my personality, my values, and my goals change. While a lot of growth comes from inside me, a massive part of it comes from the environment I spend most of my hours in: my school community. My school is not just a building where I memorize facts for tests; it is the ultimate shaping tool that is molding who I am today and directing who I will be tomorrow.
When I first walked through the gates of my school in 8th grade, I felt nervous and shy. I simply was not used to being in a different school. The hallways were different from what I am used to, there were a lot of male teachers, which to me was very shocking to say the least, and I was mortified to find new friends and forget my old friend group, or even make a fool of myself. I looked tough and that no one could affect me by a word, because of how long my tongue was.
If I went back I would have wished to tell my school community that I was defending myself. In those first few weeks, my identity was mostly defined by fear and a desperate desire to forget my past, and simply to be hidden. But the school community did not let me stay hidden. Slowly, through the encouragement of teachers, and classmates who invited me to sit with them during break, my comfort zone started to expand. I began to realize that finding out “who I am” requires rushing past that initial fear of being judged.
One of the biggest ways my school community shapes me is through the diverse group of people I interact with every day. In high school you are thrown into a melting pot of individuals from all different backgrounds, interests, and beliefs. Joining the debate club, though it is online, became a major turning point, creating a safe space where it was okay to voice an opinion and get challenged. It taught me how to listen to others without getting defensive, helping me become open-minded, articulate, and willing to see new perspectives. Furthermore, the daily grind of the classroom and supportive teachers guide my personal growth. When I bombed a major science exam, my teacher taught me that failure is just a step toward learning. This environment is teaching me resilience and true grit, ensuring I view mistakes as necessary detours rather than definitive dead ends on my path.
In conclusion, the journey of figuring out who I am becoming is a messy, exciting process, and I am not doing it alone. My school community acts as both a mirror and a map. It mirrors back to me my strengths and weaknesses through my interactions with teachers and peers, and it provides a map for where I want to go in life. The lessons in resilience, empathy and open mindedness that I am learning in these hallways are setting the foundation for my entire future. Right now, I am a 9th grader still trying to figure it all out, but because of the community supporting me, I know that whoever I become, it will be someone I am proud of.
There is something beautiful about the voice of a young student – organic, full of dreams, and entirely their own. The series will continue, and we look forward to sharing more of what they write.
