Over the course of the first week that I spent in Victoria, BC, I did many interesting things, and I can’t wait to tell all my friends about them when I get back to Montreal!

When Emily [Mashaal] and I got off the plane, we were so excited. We met up with our temporary families and left to go do many exciting things. On the first day, we went over to the beach and marina where we fed seals and took many pictures. This was especially exciting because the seals were wild in the ocean. We also went zip lining in a beautiful forest. That was an incredible experience.

We have been at school at GNS for five days now, and it is, in many ways, different, and in many ways the same, as LCC. Emily and I learned the importance of voting and understanding what was going on in the government. We will be meeting a few party members on Thursday as well, which will be very exciting. I also believe that I am learning something very important at GNS. I am finding out how smart and talented each and every person at LCC is, and I realize now that we have high standards, and I am far more talented in certain things than I thought I was, such as drawing and math.

I also decided to take art class and I saw that I was much better at art then I originally thought. I think this is because at GNS I wasn’t comparing myself to all the other kids.

I am learning that there is always going to be someone who is better than you, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re bad at anything. This is a lesson that I am proud to be bringing back with me to LCC, and I hope to share this with my family and friends.

– Emma Reuben ’19