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Grad profiles

A glimpse inside this year Whistler Secondary’s graduating class.

Every grad class has a special aura, something that sets them apart from all those who have gone before.

But this year’s class may be remembered for the diversity of its interests instead of its group personality.

There is a strong cohort of students who excel at sport, another which excels academically, those who have embraced art and culture, and even a few who drove their own road to get educated in the automotive field.

"I think they are pretty diverse," said Rod Thompson, who gave this year’s address to the grads.

Thompson, who’s in charge of special education programs, takes care of all the ski racers and teaches science and Physical Education. He pointed to the achievements of students like Raine Playfair who not only led the charge to put on the musical "Anything Goes", but also pursues dance and figure skating in the community, as well as other school projects.

"She is constantly doing leadership things, whether it is for the yearbook or daily announcements," said Thompson.

"Those are all initiatives that maybe we haven’t seen before or used to be teacher-driven and here the students are doing it themselves."

On Monday, the 17-year-old Playfair was recognized as the school’s outstanding student at their annual awards ceremony.

Thompson said many of the students also volunteer in the community as coaches, helping to generate a strong sense of peer leadership.

"If you look community wide there are examples of all of these kids," he said.

It’s also fun to see the whole group walk across the stage, said Thompson.

"It is always kind of neat to those kids doing it — they are all finished, so how cool is that," he said.

It’s a small class this year with only thirty-eight students in all. Most have been together since high school began.

As for the future, there are as many dreams to pursue as there are students in the class.

Some are still chasing the ski racing or sport dream, others are university or college-bound, and a few can’t wait to get out into the real world and earn a living.

Good luck!

Pique Newsmagazine

wanted to give you a glimpse inside this year’s graduating class so we asked school officials to put their heads together and offer us the names of a few students who exemplify the 2005 Class.

Raine Playfair.

"I was a little surprised," said Playfair, 17, of winning the ‘Outstanding Student" award at this week’s Whistler Secondary award ceremony.

But for many it was a fitting tribute to the lithe dancer and figure skater that managed to perform, coach, help direct and choreograph a musical and achieve honour roll status in her graduating year.

"It’s been a little busy," she said enjoying a chuckle over her hectic schedule.

"I will always remember seeing all of us in the room with our grad gowns. Wow, I thought, it is actually happening. These are the kids I grew up with and now look at us we are all in these grad gowns with these stupid hats on and we are graduating."

Playfair, who has lived in Whistler all her life, plans on attending Kwantlen University College in Richmond to complete a Bachelors degree in graphic design and marketing. But even as she heads out into the real world she hopes to keep involved with community theatre and help kids learn to skate.

"I like the kids I coach and I like sharing what I love with other people," she said.

"I love watching the kids grow and learn and be excited about what I am excited about."

And Playfair has a word of advice for those following: "Don’t take life too seriously. We are here to have fun as well. And pretend to be confident because maybe one day it will come true. If you look like you are confident you can usually pull things off."

Alison Leighton

Ski racing is in 18-year-old Leighton’s blood. Her mother competed at a regional level for B.C. and now the Whistler grad hopes her family name is podium-bound.

While she admits the 2010 Olympics are a long way off she plans to work hard to get on the national team or pursue a NCAA scholarship to ski in the United States.

"The Olympics are a dream goal," said Leighton.

"I don’t think about it all the time but it is something that would be an amazing experience."

Through the flex-ed program at the high school Leighton has already had the chance to travel overseas to race while pursuing her education.

"I really enjoy it and I think we learn a lot about life and how much bigger the world is outside of Whistler," she said.

But it was no picnic. This winter she was away for over a month at one time.

"It is tough with all the school that we miss, that is probably the toughest part – just trying to keep up and you miss your family," said Leighton.

Despite the travel and the pressure of competing Leighton made the honour roll and will graduate with the friends she has grown up with.

"You only get to graduate once so don’t take it for granted," she said.

Caitlin Currie

For 18-year-old Currie the grad year was all about learning that the world can be changed one person at a time.

"It is important for kids to realize that they can do something to change the world, that they do matter, and that things that they do can matter," said Currie, who is also on the honour roll.

As the chair of the student council, a new experience for the teen, she introduced several fundraising projects at the school including Tsunami relief, the B.C. Cancer Agency, and her latest, the Association of Educational Transformation (ASSET) in South Africa.

Currie is selling lollipops ("they are insanely popular") to fellow students and getting donations for ASSET. The money will be used to send disadvantaged kids to school over the summer.

"I am really happy with the way student council turned out and I am really glad I got involved," said Currie.

"It is something I am really going to remember because I feel like I made a difference and that we have started some things that are going to continue in the school."

Currie plans to attend UBC in the fall and hopes to pursue a career in journalism.

Verity Pringle

There is no doubt that high school is about friendship, growth and life skills. But first and foremost it is about academics and learning to learn.

Pringle, 16, stands out amongst her peers as a leader academically in the sciences.

She was not only given the Grade 12 subject awards for science and math, she is also on the honour roll, got the top GPA for Grade 12 (95 per cent) and received the BC Innovation and Science Council’s "Headed for Success in Science" award for the school.

Teachers in each school in B.C. nominate a student to receive this award from the Council, which is a provincial crown agency.

Pringle, who skipped Grade 5, plans on attending UBC in the fall and pursuing her passion for biology.

Not sure what she wants to do in the long run Pringle said: "I want to see what I can do.

"There are so many new options in university so I want to see what there is before I decide anything."

Pringle is also an accomplished singer, and has played the violin for 10 years.

She has this advice for those who would like to follow in her footsteps: "Try to survive through the year. Just keep working at it.

"Do the notes your teacher gives you and just pay attention. A lot of it is that kids just don’t pay attention in the class.

"And do your homework. It may be a bother but it is … worth it in the end."