As hundreds of graduating students about to leave the safe harbour of Edward Milne Community School this summer, some have already begun planning their next step.
As such, the Sooke Mirror decided to sit down with two of EMCS’s determined young minds, and get an idea of where they’re heading.
They’re Dallas Brooks and Jessica Young, both graduating this year, both passionate of what they want to do in the next few years of their lives.
And one thing is for sure: EMCS has been a testing ground for one’s inner passions, even without knowing it at first.
“I wanted to originally be a veterinarian so it’s kinda funny how things change,” laughed Young, who plans to go to Kwantlen Polytechnic University in pursuit of a career in fashion design.
Brooks, on the other hand, has always loved math, games and computers since a young age, so his direction is software engineering at the University of Victoria, with the hope of someday making a game of his own.
“I feel I’m more at a stage now where I understand how they’re being made and how to apply that, so I want to start making games or get into the software world somehow,” he said.
In the end, it’s all about sticking to doing what you love most, hinted Young, who found her artistic spark in the textiles and sewing program in Grade 9, a program she has taken consecutively every year ever since.
It got to such a point that she ended up designing her own clothes, and even made a dress out of newspapers, which not only gathered the eyes of the media, but also the eyes at KPU, who offered her an interview at the university and gave her the opportunity to see what kind of courses were available.
Now, Young’s goal is to save up money for university.
“I want to see if I could get some scholarships for the school, and maybe get a job where I might be able to work in my own industry,” she said.
She also dances four times a week, models and does video production for various media outlets.
For Brooks, a part of his inspiration came from his uncle, who works as a software engineer for U.S-based video game developer, Electronic Arts.
The four-year university program (plus an additional one for co-op) is no easy task, but Brooks feels pretty determined to take the bull by the horns.
“I’m nervous to see where it goes, but I believe in myself and I have a lot of support from friends and family, so I think I can definitely attempt it, regardless of where it ends up taking me,” he said.
Brooks pointed out that he’s excited to finally be able to pursue a career that he’s truly passionate about, as opposed to the plethora of subjects that students have to endure.
He’s also got a love for sports, having played hockey and lacrosse for 13 years, but he still mostly enjoys his past time trying out a new game and exploring a new digital frontier.
“[When it comes to games] instead of listening to the story, like in a book, I like being a part of the story, as playing a game.”
The EMCS graduation ceremony will be held on Saturday (June 4) at the University of Victoria, UVic Centre Farquhar Auditorium, fro 1 to 4 p.m. For booking tickets, call 250-721-8480.