Grade 9 Pledge to Graduate?

Grade 9 Students Pledge to Graduate

On Tuesday, January 18, Stamford’s grade 9s took part in a ceremony where they pledged to graduate as part of the Class of 2014.

The nearly-200 students met in the cafeteria where they began a two-line procession into the gymnasium, led by Student Council members Andrea Wurster and Andrew ___. Presiding over the ceremony was Mrs. Brady, Stamford’s guidance counsellor, and Mrs. Merante, the Student Success teacher. To continue the afternoon’s events, Stamford’s Class of 2010 valedictorian, Phil Marinucci, offered some words of advice and encouragement, urging the grade 9 students to make the most of their high school education by becoming involved in extracurricular activities. His words resonated with everyone in the gymnasium. Stamford’s principal, Ms. Harrison, then delivered some of her own words of wisdom to the future graduates.

Following the speeches, each grade 9 student was called onto the stage to receive a diploma, just like a real graduation ceremony. Ms. Harrison and vice principal Mr. Gittins waited on stage to shake their hands and offer congratulations. Upon receiving his or her diploma, each grade 9 then signed a large banner, which was adorned with nearly 200 signatures from the Class of 2014 by the end of the afternoon.

The future graduates returned to the cafeteria where they celebrated their pledge to graduate with cake.

- Is there anything else that should be included??? I think it probably needs more of a conclusion because this one is rather abrupt but I couldn't think of anything at the moment. Thanks.

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In her last three years of high school, grade twelve student Sara Reeb has been frequenting the stage at all of Stamford’s showcases for musical talent. The singer-songwriter has performed at Winterstock, Coffee House, the Remembrance Day Assembly, and even had a significant role in last year’s production of the musical, “Hair”. Sara writes her own songs, taught herself to play the guitar, and has a steady following of viewers on her YouTube channel. Over one hundred YouTubers have subscribed to her videos, but she’s not looking for fame.


How does it feel to know you have over 6000 views on your YouTube channel?
Kinda weird, haha.


Did you ever think that many people would watch your videos?
No!


Does that make you feel proud or is it all just weird?
It’s weird, but it’s a good weird. It’s an exciting thing.


How would you describe your music?
I don’t know, haha, acoustic. I actually don’t know how to describe it. Just acoustic music.


I noticed on your YouTube channel that you’ve listed Ratt and Poison as some of your favourite bands. How do you go from listening to that genre of music to writing acoustic music?
No idea, it’s really weird. I listen to complete opposite music than I play. I like a lot heavier stuff to listen to but at the same time they [heavier bands] all have slow music.


Did writing acoustic music come naturally to you, or was it more related to the fact that you don’t have a band to make music in the genre that you listen to?
Yeah, pretty much. I can do their stuff in an acoustic version.


Would you want to be part of a band one day and try it for real?
I don’t think so, I don’t think I have the voice to suit it.


How long has music been a part of your life?
I’ve been playing guitar since grade ten guitar class, singing, I’ve been taking lessons for seven years. I started putting it all together in grade ten.


How did you get started writing songs?
In grade six for a poetry assignment. Me and my best friend were writing a poem together and we’re just like “let’s make a song!” and it was the worst song I’ve ever written in my life but we thought it was phenomenal. It was a song about trees, it was great.


Some of the videos you’ve posted on YouTube mention collaborations with other musicians. Do you have any plans for more collaborations in the near future?
I write with TK. I don’t very often, I find it really difficult to write with people.


How did it go when you two wrote together?
It actually went well just because we kind of respect each other’s territory. He did the guitar part and I wrote the lyrics.


So how’s it been for you learning to play the guitar?
It’s hard, haha, it’s very hard. I’m not that great.


What’s been the biggest challenge?
Playing left handed because being forced to play right handed at first was not fun. Having to re-string guitars, having to pay more for guitars. I don’t really know a lot about guitars.


Do you still get nervous before you perform?
Yeah. I do. A lot. Unless, I find if I’m performing my original stuff it’s not bad, but if I’m doing a cover of something, I get really freaked out. Just because everyone knows it. If it’s my song and I mess up they don’t really know.


What’s the most memorable performance you’ve done so far?
Probably at the Regional Battle of the Bands. I was the filler. I think it was the worst performance I’ve ever done, but it’s definitely the most memorable. I like, broke the music stand and the chord for my guitar didn’t work so I had to mic it. It was terrible. It was exciting though. I talked to all the different bands.


Did it go over well?
Yeah, it was good. They didn’t really pay attention to the filler anyways.


Still, it’s a good opportunity right?
Yeah, for sure.


What’s the best piece of encouragement you’ve ever received?
Probably from my dad. If I were to sing completely off key he would think it’s great anyways. It’s great.


So he’s your biggest supporter?
Yeah, definitely. He says “one day I’m gonna drive your tour bus!”.


Is there any song you’ve heard that you wish you could say you wrote?
Yeah, Happy Birthday! Everyone knows that song! I don’t even know who wrote Happy Birthday, but everyone would know it and in the back of your mind you’d be like “oh I wrote that”.


Is that something you hope for in the future, to maybe have your songs played on the radio?
It’d be awesome to have people know them. I don’t necessarily know if I want to be famous, but I definitely want to continue making YouTube videos. I do want to still perform.


Would you consider pursuing music as a career in the future?
I wouldn’t necessarily say I want to be a famous rock star or anything because the odds of that happening are like, 0, but I definitely want to do something with music. I want to go out and study music or study vocals.


Was there anything in particular that caused you to realize this is what you want to do, or was it just sort of a gradual thing?
When I started playing guitar, started teaching myself, I found that if I found a simple guitar riff I could just easily put lyrics to it and I was just like “oh, that’s pretty cool!”. It’s like a diary but not written down. I just kinda realized, “oh I like this”.


And are your friends and family supportive of that or do they encourage you to have something else to fall back on?
They’re a little bit of both ways. Everyone in my family’s tone deaf, no musical ability at all- so they don’t really understand it. They still support me but they’re kinda just like “wow, is that even a career?”.


But you’re still going to do it.
Yeah. I’m going to do it anyways. Who cares.


To listen to Sara's music, go to www.youtube.com/user/mascara166, and for updates about new songs or performances search "Sara Reeb Music" on facebook.