TURNING POINTS Award Winning Essays 2011 Head office: Toronto Provincial associates: Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, North Bay, Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax, Fredericton, Charlottetown, St. John’s 4211 Yonge Street, Suite 301, Toronto, ON M2P 2A9 Telephone: 416-440-5100 1-800-790-9113 Fax: 416-482-5311 email: [email protected] Website: www.thelearningpartnership.ca The Learning Partnership and design is a registered trademark of The Learning Partnership Canada. elcome to The Learning Partnership’s 2010-2011 Turning Points anthology of essays. This is the twelfth annual compilation of essays Wwritten by students participating in our unique Turning Points program. Every year, there are moving stories in this anthology, and the 2010- 2011 edition is no exception. Students who participate in Turning Points revisit the past to understand its significance in the future, and make sense of their experiences. This year, students have shared many different deeply personal and powerful stories that have special significance to them as individuals. Through the process, they have demonstrated personal strength, and grown as individuals. Students’ essays both moved and inspired the more than 400 judges and teachers who reviewed essay submissions. The response and participation have again been tremendous – The Learning Partnership received over 11,500 submissions from Calgary, Brantford, Ont., the Greater Toronto Area, Sudbury, Ont., and Newfoundland and Labrador. This anthology features 119 essays selected from among the 11,500 stories submitted by students. Thank you to all the students who participated this year for sharing your stories and allowing us a glimpse into your personal journeys. Through your stories, you have shown confidence, skill, growth and strength as individuals. Thank you as well to the judges, teachers and sponsors whose support and participation help make Turning Points possible. On behalf of everyone involved, we invite you to spend some time reading all the essays in this 2011 anthology – you will be moved and inspired. Veronica Lacey Marni Angus President & CEO National Program Manager, Turning Points The Learning Partnership The Learning Partnership Turning Points: Winning Essays 2011 Table of contents Greater Toronto Area winners ....................................................................... 7 Grade 6 Greater Toronto Area winners ..............................................................8 New Life ......................................................................................................8 Odd One Out ..............................................................................................8 “May I Shine Your ... Boots?” ......................................................................9 A Trip of a Lifetime ....................................................................................10 The Power of Happiness ............................................................................10 Never Judge a Book by its Cover ................................................................11 Backstreets ................................................................................................11 That Could Have Been Me ... ....................................................................12 My Life Changing Journey .........................................................................12 Grade 6 Greater Toronto Area French winners ................................................13 Santé! .......................................................................................................13 Quand les anges pleurent ..........................................................................14 Un fardeau est une illusion ........................................................................14 Ma nouvelle vie .........................................................................................15 J’ai de la chance! .......................................................................................15 La valeur d’une minute ..............................................................................16 Le meilleure cadeau de la vie! ....................................................................16 Ma réalisation de la terre ...........................................................................17 Le sens de la vie ........................................................................................17 Bobo .........................................................................................................18 Grade 7-8 Greater Toronto Area winners .........................................................19 Is She Oppressed? .....................................................................................19 Juxtaposition .............................................................................................20 How I Learned To Love My Sister ...............................................................20 Yesterday ..................................................................................................21 Life Lessons and Grand Jetés .....................................................................22 Stepping Out of the Darkness ....................................................................22 Take the Shot ............................................................................................24 Cruel Ways ................................................................................................24 Ten Minutes and Three Seconds ................................................................25 Grade 7-8 Greater Toronto Area French winners .............................................26 Ma soeur ...................................................................................................26 Les choses importantes dans la vie .............................................................27 Mon frère ..................................................................................................28 Du Pakistan au Canada .............................................................................28 Je marche avec fierté .................................................................................29 Grade 9-10 Greater Toronto Area winners .......................................................30 Independence ...........................................................................................30 One Simple Black Scarf ..............................................................................31 Death Can Save a Life ...............................................................................32 Writing Rules, Writing Revelations .............................................................33 Stained Veil ...............................................................................................34 My Red Ferrari ...........................................................................................34 Hope for the Hopeless ...............................................................................35 What is Family About? ..............................................................................36 The Lottery of Life .....................................................................................37 Grade 11-12 Greater Toronto Area winners .....................................................39 Meeting Ana .............................................................................................39 Pain Makes You Strong, Love Makes You Selfless .......................................40 We All Fall Down .......................................................................................41 Bach Wasn’t Neurotic ................................................................................42 Hallway of Twists and Turns .......................................................................44 The Keys Beneath My Fingers ....................................................................45 I Walk With My Dad ..................................................................................47 Soaring Kites .............................................................................................48 Angles and Holes ......................................................................................50 Niagara Peninsula Aboriginal Area Management Board winners ....................................................................... 52 Grade 6 Niagara Peninsula Aboriginal Area Management Board winners ...53 A Decision .................................................................................................53 Why That Way? .........................................................................................53 Moving Has Its Challenges .........................................................................54 Grade 11-12 Niagara Peninsula Aboriginal Area Management Board winners .............................................................................55 Moment of Clarity .....................................................................................55 Afraid to Forgive .......................................................................................56 Move Along ..............................................................................................57 A Gift That Comes from Life ......................................................................59 Sports Injury ..............................................................................................60 Welcome to the Bro-hood .........................................................................61