COCHRANE— Capping off a year of adversity with the title of valedictorian, Rocky View Schools Community Learning Centre Cochrane valedictorian is focussed on the future.
Cochranite Maxime Levesque, 18, said it was a remarkable surprise to be named valedictorian of the Rocky View Schools Community Learning Centre Cochrane campus.
The title was a welcomed shock after a turbulent year of hurdles brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, she said.
The year proved to be one of unique challenges, as Levesque faced entering in and out of online classes to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the school system.
“It’s been really good because of all the support we’ve been getting so that made it a lot better,” Levesque said.
She found out she would be valedictorian in April just before the start of spring break.
“It was really exciting … I was proud of myself,” Levesque said.
Being named valedictorian of the Class of 2021 was not on her radar and when her teacher first told her she was in disbelief.
Her teachers played a key role in helping her and her peers find success in the 2020-21 school year, Levesque said, and she appreciates how they were able to inspire and motivate her and her peers to make the most of the school year.
She began attending the Learning Centre in Grade 11 year and has appreciated the time she has spent at the school.
Levesque has been looking forward to her graduation all year, she said, and the valedictorian title has proven to be the crowning achievement of her Grade 12 experience.
Levesque has prepared a speech for her virtual graduation. Her goal is to highlight the challenges she and her peers faced because of COVID-19 while highlighting the great team at the Learning Centre who helped students navigate the challenges they encountered.
“They were always teaching us how we can be better and what we can make out of ourselves,” Levesque said.
For her, her biggest takeaway at the school was the critical role responsibility and organization play in finding success and becoming self-sufficient as a student. She added these lessons were made possible because of the different cultures and experiences of classes at the Learning Centre.
Levesque plans on attending post-secondary in the future, but will be taking a gap year to figure out what she wants to pursue for her studies.
It is challenging carving a path into the future, she said, because there has been so much uncertainty over the last year.
During her gap year Levesque will be working and plans to travel if possible.
“I’m just happy to be done and proud of myself for the achievement [of valedictorian],” Levesque said.
