Monday, March 29, 2010 — THE MEDICINE HAT NEWS Leaders of Tomorrow 2010 – 7

If you ask anyone at the Medicine Hat Miywasin Society, Bailey Davis is one of the hardest working girls they know. She is funny and has a wonderful gleaming sense of humour that interested me in getting to know more about her. After talking and getting to know Bailey she expressed to me that she was Aboriginal and had a desire to learn more about her culture. Bailey was also in the process of overcoming a drug-related addiction. After spending more and more time with Bailey, her talents, goals, and dreams were all exposed to me, and I started to notice a change of character. This 17-year-old girl struggled to find her place and once connected with her culture, and taking part in more positive life choices, her place became more and more clear. She has done a lot for the centre. She volunteers regularly, and attends almost all of the youth programming. She has gotten to know Elders at the centre, as well as other dignitaries and has been showcasing her artistic ability in the youth den with an Aboriginal mural she is painting. She also recently painted the centre's window with an Aboriginal Christmas theme. She has been reconnecting with her roots by learning how to make bannock, where she won first place in the baked bannock contest at the Métis Cultural Night during Métis week. Whenever volunteers are needed Bailey never hesitates to say yes, or takes on the challenge herself. She is a very independent young woman and if ever faced with any struggles never gives up. She is a hard worker and this is shown in everything she does.

Baile Davis

I believe it is important to recognize Bailey's because she is the definition of resilience. She moved forward after dealing with crime, addiction, and depression and with culture incorporated has set dreams and goals for herself and is determined to succeed. I believe it is important to recognize youth who defy all odds and move forward with positive influences, self determination, and self-actualization. Bailey now wants to travel throughout Canada, possibly volunteering her time with the Katimavik Program after graduation then attend ACAD (Alberta College of Art & Design) because she believes she is the best and deserves the best. This is a great frame of mind, when there was once her self-esteem was so low she contemplated even living another day.

The impact of Bailey's resilience has been drastic on her family, and different community members. Her and her mother's relationship is a lot closer. They are taking part in more activities together and her mother is able to fully appreciate all of her daughter's good qualities rather than worry about if she's busy making poor choices. As for myself she is an inspiration to me. Being able to see Bailey progress is much similar to a butterfly out of its cocoon. I have been able to see the gradual process of her true beauty and how wonderful, and talented she can be. She once told me that she wasn't a leader and people shouldn't follow the things she does. I disagree with this statement. I think it takes a strong person to overcome some of life's hardships and Bailey was able to do this and move forward which is quite an admirable quality. She makes me want to continue what I do when I see her progress. Continue to help youth help themselves.

I think by awarding Bailey and recognizing her achievement will inspire others to move forward as well. Her story may inspire others to get involved, to seek positive role models, and to find what each and every one of us searches for at one point in time in our lives – who we are. Her story may show others that they can do it as well, and will encourage her to continue living positively. I think with her strength and determination she needs to be recognized for what she has overcome. Bailey truly is a leader of tomorrow.

❝

52379000•03/20/10

Fifth Avenue Memorial United Church is pleased to nominate Emma Coley as a Leader of Tomorrow. Twelve-year-old Emma has been an active participant of our church and Sunday School for the last 10 years. It has been wonderful to watch Emma grow into the young lady that she is today and to see her develop her own style of leadership along the way.

Emma Cole

Emma firmly believes that one person can make a difference AND that one person can be a child or youth. She is introspective and thinks deeply about what she can do in the community to make it better for someone else. She is passionate in her support of her “causes” and will work diligently to successfully deliver positive results.

Emma is the first to suggest a project that the children can work toward that will benefit a group or agency in Medicine Hat. The other children recognize that Emma has thought her idea through and support her with her chosen projects. In Sunday School, Emma has been instrumental in raising funds for the Women's Shelter and for the SPCA and SOS. Each week following the church service, Emma would be at the fundraising table where the youth sold Christmas decorations to raise money for the Christmas projects. This was also seen at Connaught School where Emma was President of K-Kids.

The phrase “walks the walk” is one that can be used to describe Emma. She is passionate about the causes that she supports and doesn't hesitate to get involved herself. On many occasions Emma has gone to the SPCA to volunteer to walk the dogs that are waiting for a loving home. This year, she is organizing her Sunday School Youth Group to participate in that activity with her. Each week Emma ensures that the Sunday School area is set up and prepared for the children when they come downstairs from the sanctuary. I could always count on Emma to perform any task that was asked of her. And, as she matured, she would automatically ensure that those tasks were carried out with no further prompting from me. Emma garners the participation of others by making them feel welcome and sharing the job with them.

Emma is quietly confident and shows her leadership by mentoring the younger children of our church Sunday School. If you watch closely, you can see Emma gently correct a child's behavior so that it is more suited to church and Sunday School settings. Then, during fellowship following the service, Emma encourages the children to “let it rip” and interacts right along with them.

For the past four years, instead of getting presents on her birthday, Emma asks her friends to donate money and pet supplies to the Save Old Souls Society or the SPCA. Each year, she packs up the donations and delivers them personally to the organizations.

Emma's family has sponsored a family at the Women's Shelter for the past three Christmases. Emma is the primary shopper and wrapper of gifts for these mothers and children. Her thoughtfulness and passion to find the perfect thing just so she can make a small difference in the family's life is heartwarming. She gives of herself and of her time and is a tender advocate for their return to independence.

While sometimes being in a leadership role is difficult, Emma always steps up to the task at hand and does it to the best of her ability. As a lunch monitor she would often have to demonstrate discipline so that the children ate their lunch rather than playing with their friends. She learned through chairing meetings in K-Kids that sometimes you need to take charge so that things stay on track.

I am so very proud of Emma. She demonstrates quiet strength and is a proven leader in everything that she does. She is most deserving of the recognition of the Leaders of Tomorrow program.

Ilona Bastiaansen is known to be a young woman destined for greatness. She is not satisfied unless she is working and doing things for others. Her drive and motivation to complete tasks to the utmost of her ability is unparalleled. Her work is submitted on time, all of the time, and is completed in a quality superior to that of any other student I have taught. She can be found asking teachers for clarification and going above and beyond the required assignment parameters, regardless of the subject matter and other assignments that she has.

Ilona Bastiaansen

For the past three years, she has served as the acting president of the St. Michael's High School Student Council in Bow Island and has worked tirelessly to increase the levels of school spirit at our school. She was instrumental in our “Scoreboard” activity last year, with many of her lunch hours given up to organize 12 Days of Christmas activities, Spirit Days, dress up days, Valentine's and Easter activities, World Cup soccer and Mini Stanley Cup tournaments and a very large, loud and successful pep rally in which the entire school was engaged and participating.

This love of Student Council and bettering of the school atmosphere has also led to Ilona being chosen to represent our school at the nation-wide Canadian Student Leadership Conference for the past two years in Summerside, Prince Edward Island and Olds, Alberta. In order to attend, she was required to prove that she exhibited leadership qualities in our school and the community, as well as submit essays on what she believes a leader is and be marked according to a rubric of leadership qualities by all staff members of our school. The enthusiasm that she brings to student council is immense due to her love of the school, as well as from her training at the leadership conferences.

Over the past four years, Ilona has also been instrumental in organizing the annual Fashion Show graduation fundraiser at our school, even though it is only this year that she is graduating. Her efforts contacting stores, organizing fitting times and numerous other behind the scenes activities make the Fashion Show such a huge success. Most people do not realize what a huge undertaking all of these tasks are, especially when many of Ilona’s spares and lunch hours are given up to work on completing them.

When she is not helping out with the fashion show or student council activities, Ilona can also be found volunteering and participating in the school Music Club and tutoring younger students after school before she goes to work at her job at the Bow Island Library.

Above and beyond all of the extracurricular work that Ilona participates in, she maintains an honour roll average in her Grade 12 year, putting her at the top of her class and in the running for this year’s valedictorian. This is extremely impressive once you learn that she and her family are immigrants to Canada, moving when she was in grade three to Bow Island with four younger siblings, all brothers. Ilona needed to learn a new language as well as adapt to an entirely new culture at a young age. She was in charge of taking care of her younger brothers while her mom and dad worked tirelessly to set up the family farm and create a new life for their young family in Canada.

Ilona’s amazing accomplishments are not limited to school. She is the secretary and is deeply involved with her local 4-H club, and has even won a trip to the Northwest Territories because of her involvement and dedication to her club.

For the past three years, Ilona has talked about either pursuing a career as an accountant or a teacher, and as such, has already submitted her application for admission to the University of Saskatchewan. Whatever career she decides to pursue, she will be an asset to that field as her hard work, creativity and dedication to everything that she undertakes is amazing.

The work ethic, selflessness and quality of work that this young woman exudes makes her mature beyond her years.

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.

in Faith Nurtured

❞

– John Quincy Adams

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Shaping the Leaders of Tomorrow

Medicine Hat Catholic Regional Schools — Showing the Face of Christ to All

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