How does music shape the Shawnigan Journey?

Quite often, the first thought that comes to mind when thinking of Shawnigan Lake School for many students, staff, and parents alike is the sense of “community” that can be so clearly seen and felt as soon as you enter the School. There are so many aspects of the Shawnigan experience that contribute to this overall feeling. It can be seen as a combination of the hardworking efforts of the staff, the eagerness and persistence of the student body, and the bond and experience shared by everyone in the boarding houses. However, while all of these are undeniably true, intertwined within the rich and diverse history of Shawnigan is one other factor that I believe truly creates the strong sense of community found at this School: music.

 

For myself, for many before me, and for many yet to come, music at Shawnigan has helped shape their lives and experiences at the School. Every student who has passed through the front gates of the school has been – one and all – shaped by music throughout their Shawnigan Journey, and it is first through these experiences that a sense of community begins to grow. It can be felt from the first Chapel Gathering of the year, where you first stand to sing your House and School hymns, and are first blown away by the passion and the heart that all the students embody when singing their hymns, and by that same passion will you sing them for the last time as you complete your final Chapel in Grade 12. It grows with every musical performance that you watch, and every time that you roar to applaud your Housemates and friends as they perform on stage each week. It continues to grow as the entire School travels away to watch the annual musical and erupts into standing ovations to support the cast and crew, or when they gather in the theatre to watch shows of dance, orchestra, and theatre. It grows as every single student inexplicably finds themselves performing on stage as part of inter-House air band surrounded by every other member of their house. It is these experiences that foster the huge sense of community that Shawnigan prides itself on, and these experiences that you will struggle to find at any other school.

 

Throughout my time at Shawnigan I have taken just about every musical and theatrical opportunity that has come my way, and they have helped me grow both as an individual and as a member of the community. These experiences have the unique power to help you grow out of your shell, and they provided me with the first stepping stone I needed to understand just how amazing and supportive this School is, and learn to take full advantage of what the School has had to offer. This story is not just unique to me. Throughout my journey I have had the incredible opportunity to help grow and build the program in cooperation with many other talented students and staff. Through this I have heard many similar stories from people in every grade who share in their love of music and the profound impact it has had on their lives. In my experience it is music that provides a platform for so many students and staff to express themselves in a way that is incredibly unique and deeply personal. Being able to help create more of these platforms and opportunities for people to do just that has been the highlight of my Shawnigan Journey.

 

My goal at Shawnigan has been to help create a stronger sense of community, and I sought that out through what was most dear to me: music. The time and energy that I, my friends, and my peers dedicate to this School can often be demanding and tiring, but I find that it is unanimously some of the most rewarding work that any of us have ever done. I look around now, at almost the end of my time here, and continue to be in awe of the School that I am part of. A school where every student and staff member cares so deeply about everyone around them, and a school where people are willing to sacrifice their time and efforts with the hopes of making a positive difference in the lives of others. I, like many others, have grown through the music program at Shawnigan. So, when time comes for my final hymn to be sung, I will sing it with joy, heart, and contentment knowing every new student who will walk through those front gates will be welcomed by a community who cares, supports, and inspires just as passionately as they sing.