Coming Full Circle
Story appeared in the 2016 issue of QMS Connections Magazine.
BY LEANNE SCHULTZ, OPERATIONS & HR MANAGER
ALUMNI ELISABETH RUITER (CHRISTENSEN, ‘97)
During the summer before Grade 7, my mom sat me down at the kitchen table and asked me if I’d like to go to Queen Margaret’s School. Although I was hesitant, my mom asked me to try it for a year. Next thing I knew, I was being fitted for my own kilt.
Grade 5 with mural
When I reached Grade 10, I decided that I wanted to try public school. My step-father had just been laid off, so my parents easily agreed. During that one year at another school, I realized I had made a mistake; I missed the opportunities I had been given when attending QMS. I approached my parents about returning for my last two years, and understanding the value of education, my mom did everything she could so that I would be able to be back at QMS. She approached the School and thankfully, was able to se-cure a bursary for my last two years.
Once I graduated, my sister Megan was enrolled in Grade 8. Shortly after, my mom and step-father separated, leaving the remaining tuition cost for Mom to pay on her own. We were living off her small dis-ability income as Mom had a heart transplant when I was in Grade 2. Somehow, she made it work with the assistance of the school’s bursary program. I know Mom was so thankful to QMS for what they did for me and were doing for my sister, she wanted to give back, so she volunteered for five years and ran the uniform shop and organized many different fundraising events.
Towards the end of my sister’s Grade 11 year, in May of 1999, Mom passed away. After thirteen years of anti-rejection drugs, her body simply shut down. Reluctantly, I returned to university that fall and Megan started out her Grade 12 year on her own, living in Mom’s downtown condo. She managed for several months, but Megan was a 16-year-old girl living on her own, coping with the loss of her only parent. Seeing Megan struggle, the staff at Queen Margaret’s approached our family, offering Megan a fully paid spot in residence. Because of this generosity, Megan was not only able to successfully graduate, but more importantly, she was given a stable, caring environment to help her cope with her loss.
I am overwhelmed with gratitude when I think about what Queen Margaret’s has done for my family. I am so proud to see my daughter in her tunic, and my nieces wearing the same St. Hugh’s tie as Megan and I. Above all, I am delighted that I now have my opportunity to give back to the School community. Twenty-five years after walking into the Grade 7 classroom as a new student, I have the honour of being back in the Grade 7 classroom, but this time as the teacher.
“It would probably surprise many people to know that approximately 30% of our families receive some form of financial support. Having a robust and consistent source of funding for scholarships and bursaries would allow our School to provide even more opportunities for students and their families without impacting our operational budget. We value diversity and believe that the gifts each student brings adds value and strengthens our community.”