Two students from David Thompson Secondary School (DTSS) are preparing for a trip to Ottawa as part of the Encounters with Canada youth forum.
Erin Hillary and Makayla Wilder are getting more excited and a little nervous as their departure for their trip gets closer.
“I won’t know anyone on the trip but that is going to make it fun as well. I will get the chance to meet many new people,” Wilder said.
The focus during their week in Ottawa is set towards the specific interests of the students. Both girls are excited to have the chance to take part in workshops and meet people who have the same interests they do.
“I get to take different courses in things like sketching and painting. We also get to do one where we learn B-boying, which is dancing,” Hillary said.
The girls are also looking forward to getting out to see some of the museums in the Ottawa area.
They are both members of the DTSS Leadership group and spoke of how important the group has been for them in getting the chance to be involved in things like these trips.
“I want to be involved with it throughout my high school career. I always want to be involved with helping the community,” Wilder said.
“Getting to know the community while reaching out where there is need is very rewarding,” Hillary added.
Both girls spoke of how they believe they will become even more inspired after going on the trip because it will give them a chance to meet people from across the country who are all trying to do things for their communities, country and world.
Encounters with Canada is Canada’s largest youth forum and every week of the school year, 120 to148 teens from across Canada (ages 14-17) go to Ottawa. According to the group’s website, while in the nation’s capital the students will have the chance to discover new information about their country through each other, learn about Canadian institutions, meet famous and accomplished Canadians, explore exciting career options, develop their civic leadership skills and live an extraordinary bilingual experience.In the end the students are getting prepared to have the chance to learn more about their personal interests while also taking inspiration on how to be a positive part of their community and the world as a whole.