Belonging

I again extend a heartfelt welcome to the entire community, those who are returning and those who are new. For those students who are just beginning their Shawnigan Journey, I offer a special welcome. I can relate to some of what you might be experiencing. As I step into the role of Chaplain, today is my first time leading Chapel at Shawnigan Lake School. Leading up to today’s beginning, I have been feeling a mixture of feelings, everything from excitement and curiosity to nervousness, anxiety, and even some fear. I imagine that many of you are experiencing similar feelings, especially those of you who have travelled great distances to be here, those who are away from home for an extended period of time, those who are speaking in English even though it may not be your first language, and those who may be navigating different struggles and worries. You each have an important story to share, and I look forward to hearing your stories and getting to know you. To embark on this journey of a new school year takes courage, and what we want for each student at Shawnigan is to feel supported in your courage. Being courageous is often uncomfortable. And I suspect that many here in this room today might be feeling somewhat uncomfortable.

 

I was interviewed in June for this position, and one of the interview questions Mrs. Samuel asked was what the topic of my first Chapel talk would be. Without needing to think twice, I answered that it would be about Belonging. I have a particular passion for creating brave spaces that nurture belonging, and I am eager to hear from the students and staff, what tangible actions I can do here in Chapel to help deepen the landscape of belonging.

 

A little while back, when I would drive south out of Duncan on the Trans-Canada Highway, I would see the Shawnigan Lake School billboard that said, “Where you belong.” Every time I drove past and read this message, I felt inspired. Similarly, I appreciate that the first letter in the acronym BE A JEDI stands for Belonging. I am learning that BE A JEDI is the name for the Diversity, Equity, and Belonging committee here at Shawnigan.

 

To strive to be a community of belonging is a tall order, but quite possibly is one of the most meaningful and important aspirations for a community.

 

So, what is Belonging?

 

Maybe I will start with what it is not.

 

Belonging is not about fitting in. During the high school years, especially, belonging can be easily misinterpreted as fitting in. Fitting in can be an all-consuming quest, as students strive to be someone they are not, to mask their true identity, and to assume a mould that does not align with their truest self.

 

To belong is to be known – to have someone, or a group of people, see and understand our whole selves. At our core, I think humans have a deep need to belong. To be fully seen. To be fully heard. To be fully known.

 

This year in Chapel, we hope to integrate the First Peoples Principles of Learning. This month’s principle is “Learning requires exploration of one’s identity.” To be true to who we are, we need to also know about our identity, through exploration of our race, ancestry, culture, gender and sexual orientation, nationality, our capabilities, and all the other numerous aspects of identity. My prayer for each of you is that in Chapel, in your Houses, in the classrooms, and in all the other activities here, that there will be opportunities for each of us to move more fully into our identity.

 

Creating a genuine culture of belonging is both an individual and a school-wide commitment. From what I can tell so far, Shawnigan is intentionally striving to be a community known for genuine belonging. This intention requires that we each enter this new school year with courage. Courage to be authentic. Courage to reveal the parts of ourselves that we might be conditioned to hide. Courage to shine in our gifts and to celebrate our shortfalls, challenges, and even failures. If belonging is about being your authentic self, as individuals, we need to have the courage to stand in this truth and show others all that we are. Belonging is about keeping it real.

 

Collectively, we need to continue to build an atmosphere of trust. To enable individuals to act with such courage, as a school we must be actively creating brave and safer spaces here at Shawnigan. We need to trust that we are each held and supported. We need to trust that it is OK to get it wrong. We need to trust that we will be fully seen and heard.

 

Since the announcement of my recent appointment to the position of Chaplain here at the School, I have received an overwhelming welcome. I have had people greet me in school yards and coffee shops, inviting me over to their homes, as they extend genuine invitations of help and support. Through these warm gestures, I feel the pulse of this community as loving, supportive, and hospitable. I am confident that the new students are also beginning to feel this same pulse.

 

Through both giving and receiving small gestures of support, my hope is that we each will find belonging. No one community is perfect, and there is always room for growth, and each one of us needs to play an active part in creating an atmosphere of belonging. So, when there is a mistake, let’s commit to repair. When there is beauty, let’s commit to making it known. When there is the inclination to hide, let’s commit to gentle nudges of encouragement.

 

I am excited to walk alongside each of you as we listen to one another’s stories and honour one another’s identities. In this process, we can create belonging together.