Three recognized from each secondary school
Jun 24, 2009 - 02:06 PM
By Crystal Crimi
DURHAM -- They're leaders in their schools and communities and the hard work of these Durham teenagers hasn't gone unnoticed by their school board.
The accomplishments of more than 60 people were highlighted during a recent Student Recognition Night, held in partnership between Durham District School Board and the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation District 13.
Among those recognized was Pickering High School student Lee-Ann Barlow who has come out of the shadows to reveal herself as a leader.
"It was really nice," said Lee-Ann, a Pickering resident. "I think it's good to encourage students who are actively putting an effort in."
Generally, unless you do something miraculous, it's hard to get recognition for what you do, she said.
"It's nice to see other people know you're making a difference as well," she said.
From primarily participating in music in Grade 9 and 10, her involvement in the school has grown over the years to include becoming a founding member and now president of PEACE (Peer Effort for an Assertive and Compassionate Environment), an anti-bullying group near to her heart.
"Both my brother and I were bullied a lot when we were little," Lee-Ann said.
She was smart, quiet and tall and the difference attracted attention, she added.
"Kids are cruel to kids that are different," Lee-Ann said. "That sort of stayed with both of us."
In Grade 7 and Grade 8, she started to move into leadership roles, but in Grade 9, she was back to the bottom of the heap. In high school, she became involved in groups with smaller memberships which led her to take a leadership role.
"From that, I guess I gained confidence in myself and my ability and carried it into other things as well," Lee Ann said.
In Grade 10, she became part of the Pickering High School Gay-Straight Alliance, of which she was also a founding member. At first, the group experienced some controversy with people calling it the gay club, but since then things have calmed down.
She's now also co-president of the environmental club.
"I like seeing I can have an impact in the world even if it's at a small scale," Lee-Ann said.
Her most significant achievement is getting other people involved as well, she added.
She also volunteers outside the school as a youth leader for World Vision and the Canadian Cancer Society.
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