Finding My Voice
Story appeared in the 2016 issue of QMS Connections Magazine.
BY YUKI WATANABE (GRADE 11)
I used to think that I was shy; I never spoke up to express my opinions to others. Whenever I met new people, I wondered whether they liked me or not because I did not have confidence in myself.
“When Yuki first arrived at QMS, she was a quiet young student who put attention to her studies, had a small group of friends she spent time with, and seemed quietly content with life at the School. Then, last year, Yuki was encouraged to try something new and auditioned for the School’s production of Fame. She opened her mouth and surprised everyone with a hidden talent that even she didn’t know that she had. Since then, her self-confidence has exploded. She has grown into a poised leader who uses her voice, encourages others, and is willing to take calculated risks, knowing that these risks will only support her personal growth and skills. Yuki has transformed into a solid student leader who is a positive role model to others. ”
My mom has given me many opportunities to grow and mature as a human being, and even coming to QMS was her suggestion. With a little bit of curiosity, I set off on what has become my first great adventure.
Being away from home was not as tough as I thought it would be. I had lots of support from house moms, teachers, and people around me in many ways, but one of my big-gest challenges was to live without my mom who has always been a compass to point me in the right direction. I saw students showing their leadership skills in many ways, and I finally realized that I must be the one to decide which path to take. So, I began by auditioning for the school musical, Fame, to put myself out there, and I landed one of the prominent roles in the show. The recognition from everyone in Residence, including the house moms, made a big impact on me, and at that moment I truly felt my heart-to-heart connection with QMS.
QMS has become my second family where I can truly be myself. I value sharing a living space, having diversity, independence, and the welcoming atmosphere that grows empathy towards others. The gen-erous support of the residence community eventually led me to success and confidence in myself. Next year, I will be a Residence Assistant and a member of the Student Council.
Having such a supportive environment at QMS and the opportunity to participate in great leadership pro-grams in Residence and in School has taught me how satisfying it is to take action to build my confidence —there are always people to sup-port me, just like my mom. I’ve gone from being the girl who didn’t use her voice to being the lead singer of the QMS Rock Band. My journey still continues at QMS, and I can’t wait to see where it will take me.