Issue link: https://publications.tfs.ca/i/755823
I ARRIVED AT TFS IN GRADE 6. My family had just recently moved to Toronto from Montreal, and my English was, at best, rudimentary. Although I was welcomed warmly and made friends quickly, my capabilities in English were holding me back. A lot of the time, when I had an idea, I didn't know how to express it. And when I had the words to phrase what I wanted to say, I still wouldn't participate in conversations as I wanted to because I was deeply insecure about my accent. When thinking of my experience at TFS and the moments that shaped me as an individual, the first thing that comes to mind is my time in English as a Second Language (ESL) classes. A.B. Ironically, the place where I wasn't too concerned with conjugation and syntax mistakes was in my ESL class. For much of Grades 6 and 7, Mr. Price, my ESL teacher, and I met once or twice a week for an hour. Of course, he taught me how to conjugate verbs and how to structure sentences properly, but, most importantly, he pushed me to reflect about my own identity and my values and beliefs. He asked me who I was, and why I had the convictions that I did. He also encouraged me to think critically about topics such as politics and history. Mr. Price and I seldom agreed, but he always listened to me carefully, even when my English wasn't coherent. Quite often, I didn't have the language necessary to rebut him and that frustrated me immensely, but it also motivated me to work harder. Never, in my two years in ESL, did my teacher correct me in a condescending way or make fun of my accent. On the contrary, he was sensitive to my differences and made me realize that they were a part of me that I had to cultivate, not throw away. Years later, my time in ESL has stuck with me. I'm now heading TFS' Model UN society, where I'm pursuing the passion for debate that I developed with Mr. Price. I've also gotten more and more engaged in Canadian politics where my sensitivity to diversity, a trait that my teacher helped instil in me, has allowed me to forge bonds with Canadians from coast to coast, all from different backgrounds. As Premier Citoyen, the First Citizen at TFS, an honour I share with Soraia, the Première Citoyenne, I hope to continue to embody these values and ensure that all students' differences are not only respected, but also appreciated. TFS' First Citizens with Senior School Prefects and Capitaines. 19 TFS ENTRE NOUS 2016