Sophia Henson

It’s finally June! Of course, this month has presented many challenges that no one was prepared for, but as we reflect on the past year, I have certainly grown since September and created many memories I will carry with me through my high school experience. A major attraction to attending The York School is its unique program involving civics, geography, history, and English. When coming to York, the Integrated Canadian Experience (ICE) was what I was most excited and curious about. Not only has it allowed me to gain in-depth knowledge and understanding on various topics relevant to our country such as political issues in the north, WW1 history, and different ways to express myself such as using infographics, photo essays, documentaries and podcast, but it has also given me experience outside on the classroom that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

This year presented many challenges for me, having to create new relationships while adjusting the new unique style of teaching in our ICE classroom. What was most challenging for me were the opportunities I got that forced me to go outside of my comfort zone and do thighs I would have never done otherwise.

Back in September, one of my biggest worries had no relation to the workload I would be presented with but rather the social aspect of entering a new school. Lucky for me, my teachers had already thought of that and without stepping foot in a classroom, we headed off to Camp Wanakita. This is my earliest memory at York as well as one of my favourites. It was a chance to escape the city as well as connect with a group of people I had never met before. I created my first relationships in camp and had a blast getting to know my class.

Another one of my year highlights was our winter camping trip. This was the ultimate challenge and put me in new and exciting positions I would have never experienced otherwise. We spend our days outdoors in the middle of February discovering new cultures, learning new skills, as well as sleeping in our own handcrafted quinzee. The bonds and experiences gained on this trip are ones I will never forget. Going to Toronto Island was also an amazing trip. There we were asked to create a documentary highlighting the lives of its residents as well as capturing its beauty. This was the first time I was able to interview strangers and roam around the island on our bikes freely with my friends.

In addition, I have learned new types of media and created things such as my Indian Horse book interpretation where I created pierce out of a book symbolizing the growth of the novel's characters and the trauma created by Canada’s residential schools. I created an infographic, a blog acting as a timeline of my year in ICE, a podcast talking about my trip to Ottawa, and a documentary about my time on Toronto Island.