Jan. 21 marks the end of high school for four McNaughton Centre students.
McNaughton was their chance to get a high school diploma, something each of the four grads knew they needed, regardless of their future goals.
Three of the students agreed to speak to the Observer (Samantha was unavailable at the time of the interview) – about their reasons for finishing their schooling at McNaughton, how it’s changed them and their future now.
Desarae has been at McNaughton for four years. She was skipping so much school her education was at risk.
Melissa had quit school and worked for two years. Two and half years ago she enrolled in McNaughton because, “I knew I needed Grade 12 for any job.”
Lacey was looking for a school that was smaller, where teachers actually listened to students.
That first day, Lacey said it was weird.
“It was so different from regular school,” she said.
“They fed you, listened to you and gave you breaks.”
Lacey also admitted she came to McNaughton with a bad attitude.
“I was always miserable, always had a mean look on my face,” she said.
But slowly, Lacey said the attitude dropped away. She thinks it might have started to change as she began to succeed.
All three say support and sometimes pushing from friends, family and school counsellors have kept them going to finish Grade 12.
However, along the way, they’ve changed for the better.
Lacey said part of the reason she stuck with it was she didn’t want to be 19 and still going to high school.
Desarae said she has more confidence, acknowledging it’s taken courage to get school done.
“[At McNaughton] It’s more like a family, you learn to trust the teachers and staff,” she said.
“They care about you.”
Lacey agreed.
Melissa said she focused on completing her Grade 12 and accomplishing that was plenty of motivation, but agreed her family and friends, many of which already attended McNaughton, were also instrumental in keeping her on task.
“I probably wouldn’t have gone to school if my family, especially my boyfriend, hadn’t pushed me sometimes,” Melissa added.
But with any goal, there’s challenges. Melissa said problems outside the school sometimes impacted her dedication to achieving Grade 12.
Lacey said it’s frustrating, sometimes, to stay focused on school with all the really young students who are now enrolling in the alternative education program.
Truancy, one of the most common problems in any school, caught up with Melissa and, after missing seven days, was kicked out of school and her name went on a waiting list for the next school cycle. She hoped she could get back in.
“It was only for about two weeks, but I was glad to be back, I just wanted to get it done,” she said.
Desarae said at McNaughton she started to feel like she had a chance. Now, four years later, she’s about to graduate, something she didn’t always envision for herself.
The girls are looking forward to finishing and each have plans for their future.
Lacey plans to attend college and become a writer, Desarae is looking into becoming a dental assistant, while Melissa said she’s moving away from Quesnel right after graduation.
Although no school can possibly meet every students requirements who pass through it’s doors, the girls said McNaughton is pretty flexible.
“It could work for everybody,” Melissa said.
“The ones who don’t make it here just didn’t want to.”
Lacey has one course to complete, Desarae has two and Melissa has finished all her graduation requirements and can’t wait be done with school.
They’ll all be done before the school graduation.
Lacey and Desarae also plan to be part of the high school graduation ceremonies next June and will proudly take their place with the Correlieu graduates.
