Student Testimonials

Student Testimonial #1:

"Grade 12 was a year of transition for me. AHS gave me the support, freedom, and guidance I needed to succeed. I felt honestly understood, and accepted by all my teachers, and learnt so much about my strengths and learning styles in the process. Receiving this kind of support helped me to realize my potential and learn the tools I needed to direct my path in a positive direction. I am forever grateful to have been a part of the AHS community."
~ Mary Watson

Student Testimonial #2:

"I began at the alternative high school in September of 2017. I didn’t know what to expect at all, being an eighteen year old girl struggling with anxiety and depression at the time, I was really nervous as to what I was going to be walking into. 

 My first day was extremely welcoming. Each teacher greeted me with a giant smile. At first I had a hard time opening up to the staff with what I was going through but soon enough I realized it was the best option for me especially when I started to avoid school because of my mental health. I remember talking to one of the teachers telling them that I was too nervous and sad to even get out of bed in the morning to get to school. The teacher looked at me as I had tears in my eyes being embarrassed to what I had just confessed and said I’ll be right back. He brought back two popsicles sticks, he put one in his mouth sideways biting down on the stick showing his warm smile and handed the other to me gesturing I do the same. He told me that that popsicle stick will make your brain think that you’re smiling. Basically this popsicle stick had the ability to trick your mind into thinking that you’re happy by forcing a smile on your face. My tears went away from his silly expression. He promised me that all of the staff would help me through whatever I’m going through in order to help me graduate. And that statement proved to be true. Every day that I came in they had a section blocked off for me where I was able to sit alone without anyone being able to see me which is exactly what I wanted; a place where I could work without being worried of what other people thought of me. 

 In the middle of the school year my depression got worse, I missed school weeks at a time and truly did not believe I was going to graduate. Each teacher texted me daily wondering how I was, telling me that they would be there for me whenever I was ready. Two weeks before school was about to end that year I finally caved in on all of the love and support I was getting. I showed up to school and told them I wanted to finish the four credits I was missing within the two weeks of school that was left no matter what it took. They had no doubt in me at all as they organized all the worksheets and tests I needed to graduate. I graduated two weeks later with my grade 12 diploma because of all the work and hope the staff had put into me. 

 It took some time for me to work on my mental health but as soon as I felt that I was overcoming my own obstacles I realized exactly what I wanted to do with my life. All the help and support the AHS teachers showed me stirred me in the direction of becoming the mental health worker I am today. At the end of 2019 I graduated with a community support work degree. I am now helping young adults who struggle with their own mental health.

Because of all the patience, encouragement, and love I felt through AHS I am able to spread all of those things towards others. To this day if I see a client who is upset or crying I pull out a popsicle stick to remind them that you have to do whatever it takes to create your own happiness, even if you look silly doing so."
~ Ochyn Crosby 

Student Testimonial #3:

"I loved attending AHS. Distance learning was difficult to do from home, but the environment there allowed me to focus on schoolwork and when I needed to, to take breaks and learn new skills, like card making or playing the keyboard. I even got to learn how to put a bike together from scratch and many more valuable experiences. But I think what I valued most at AHS was my ability to explore all the different options I wanted to pursue after graduating, and with the help of all the wonderful staff and the time and resources to do it, I had a direction. I moved to BC and learned Fine Woodworking and Metalwork, and I absolutely love it."
~ Jillian

Student Testimonial #4

"Where can I even begin? I suppose I can say I wouldn’t be where I am currently, as clichéd as that sounds. I most likely would have still graduated, and probably would have even gone into university after. However it wouldn’t have been with the same speed and confidence that the Alternative High School instilled in me.

There I discovered how I learn and how to support that style of learning.  I learned what I struggled with and how best to combat these struggles. It helped me in more than just my academic life, as some of the lessons I learned there have spilled over into my everyday way of thinking. But above all, I think I mostly remember the staff there and how, despite the numerous other students, I never felt like I was waiting.  If I needed assistance I could always find someone to help.

The fact I still keep in touch with many of them today I’d say, is a testament to how above and beyond they all went. If I could say one thing to everyone who had a part in AHS it would be thank you!

Thank you so much for taking that chance on me. I’m forever grateful for the opportunity and experiences it gave me."
~ Kierdan Laliberte

Student Testimonial #5:

"Dear AHS, 

Honestly, I have no idea where to start and this is really hard for me. In the years that have gone by I thought I could never amount to what the other kids could do. I lived in my own world of hopelessness. In those days I imagined never being able to finish high school. The failures I experienced were too heavy to move on from. Where to begin...writing this is not easy.

This story goes back at least three years. It happened around second semester, where I got into a lot of trouble and I basically of dropped out of school. I was two months from graduation (literally) and it was already May. My mental health was deteriorating. I spent all of my time with my guidance counsellor when I should’ve been in class.  She would later turn out to be my greatest friend and advocate. She gave me my own space in her office and I spent all of my lunches talking with her while she listened. The counsellor had no reason to do this especially as she normally went home for lunch but she made spending that time with me more than just a job for herself. She saw my pain more than anyone. I was at my end, rock bottom but she did not judge me. She was the perfect ear. 

I only needed three more credits for graduation and the teachers had put in so much work creating assignment packages for me. I felt very disappointed knowing that they were putting in all of that effort when I was not able to push through and succeed. My mom was my own personal secretary. She had to push so hard to get me access to the resources that would help me get to the finish line. However, at this point, I could not even answer my emails from the teachers. It got to the point that the teachers were reaching out to my mom every single day wondering what was going on with me. I was very open with my teachers about my situation. I felt like everyone was trying but they didn’t understand me. It just got to the point where I couldn’t put this on them anymore. The plan was that I would graduate no matter what, but my grades were nowhere near what I was able to achieve. I am a perfectionist. I have high standards for myself and couldn’t go through with this plan to graduate in this way. I didn’t want to just drop out and I promised my teachers that I would be back. However, the reality of how I was feeling was I did not want to go back to high school ever again.

In the middle of summer my high school counsellor gave me a call and everything began to change. She had taken the time in August, (around the time you’d normally register for school) to put me on the list for this other high school I had heard about for people looking to graduate. I was surprised by her call because I thought that counsellors would be the last people to return to work. However, I wasn’t actually surprised because she is such an amazing person. 

About one year later I decided to attempt to go back and try graduating for the second time, hopefully with the grades I so badly wanted to achieve. I wasn’t going to let myself become a high school dropout. I made an appointment to meet the staff at the AHS and make a plan for how I was going to get this done. I went to introduce myself to Mr. Wiebe, Mr. Roe and Ms. Barclay who would later become a huge part of my growth. To be honest I wasn’t quite ready to return to high school because I was still working on my mental health. I was feeling down and depressed. However, the way the teachers advertised everything made me feel more optimistic that I could actually come back into a school environment. Back at my first high school I had become so isolated that I lost almost all of my social skills and all of my friends. I felt judged even walking around the school hallways. I was not able to hold a basic conversation with people anymore. This is not anywhere near where I am now, where I can open up and speak honestly about the struggles in my life. One reason I felt optimistic again was because I felt it was a safe place where I could engage in talking to people again.

On my first day I was pretty comfortable at AHS. I didn’t go on the tour of the U. of M. campus with the other students because I didn’t want to lose my drive and motivation to restart school. Instead, I chose to walk around with some of my U. of M. friends while they showed me their university world. I have to say the AHS is this kind of crazy cool offsite location that nobody knows about with an amazing view of the Bombers football field. Right away I noticed that I was to connect with my teachers like they were my friends. This was a huge change for me. What I quickly learned is that it’s not possible to have a bad teacher at AHS because each teacher brings a lot of heart and experience in their own way, to the school. 

In February I was going through a very traumatic time, which was something that everyone at the school could see. Ms. Barclay told me that I should not be at school in such a tough emotional state, which was basically uncontrollable breakdowns. I was crying, not sleeping and not eating. Ms. Barclay shared a hard truth that made me upset but she helped me to understand that I needed to take care of my mental health first. I took a break from school but the team at the AHS continued to text and call me about how I was doing. I wasn’t nagged about finishing coursework and graduation. I don’t know the number of times I told Mrs. Barclay that I couldn’t do this anymore and that I was dropping out of the AHS. She told me that I wasn’t dropping out of the AHS. Her message was that I was going to take better care of myself and that she would be there for me. Throughout this time, Ms. Barclay, along with the education assistants Tanya and Kirsten made me food, sometimes even when I wasn’t hungry. They persuaded me to take naps when I looked tired and when I was feeling my worst, they were all there to lift me up whether it was by doing crafts or just to talk and connect.

Somehow I was able to push through this time and the only thing that changed from the last time I tried to finish school was you guys. That’s really the whole point of this story because I never would have thought anything of myself without the AHS. I didn't even know I had some ability as a writer until Mr. Roe told me. I had felt the world was a terrible place and I hated everything for no reason. So many times I had been disappointed in everything, but you guys managed to not disappoint me for a whole year. It reminded me that there are good people out there. My faith in humanity was restored.

In the spring, I was greeted with the opportunity to get to know U. of M. which was the school I hoped to transition to from the AHS. Mr. Roe offered to give me a tour of the gym along with my dad which had changed my mentality about how physical health is connected to your emotional health. This is something I knew existed but I never knew how to apply to my life. I had lived my life in an unhealthy way for many years. Now, I am exercising everyday, eating everyday and sleeping everyday which were all things I struggled with for far too long. I am now content with saying that I live my life with balance now. Sometimes you just need someone to show you the way so you can take off your dark glasses and see life in a better way. If I could only take away one thing I needed the most out of this experience at AHS, it wouldn’t be my diploma. It was meeting the people who would change my views on life.

It truly impresses me how a team of six staff members could hold a school together. I guess bigger schools with more students and teachers can actually cause more chaos than good for some. I can’t even count on one hand how many of my friends wished they hadn’t graduated from their high school just so they could have a go at AHS.

I can’t choose a favorite teacher because each one has something to offer individually. Ms. Barclay taught me forgiveness in myself and how to apply myself to school in a healthy way. Ms. Friesen helped me when I couldn’t understand something in university classes or just to change a computer password. Mr. Weibe taught me the world of finance. Mr. Roe taught me writing. Tanya and Kirsten taught me that life could be better. But one thing the teachers all have in common is that they are good listeners with good advice to give. If I have learned anything this year it is that there is a whole world out there, a bigger picture. You all have helped me to renew the faith I have in myself. I’ve had the chance that all of those students who dropped out never had. They never got this opportunity to have success in high school. They did drugs, gave up and were neglected for bad choices. I am grateful and blessed that I was given this opportunity and I will never forget my time here at the AHS. Only a year of my life was spent at the AHS but sometimes I imagine what spending two years here would have done for me and my development. I will miss every single day I spent here and cherish this time forever."
~ Anonymous

Student Testimonial #6:

"I was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in 1996.  Tragically, both of my parents passed away when I was a small child.  In 2011 at age 15, through a number of circumstances, I came to Canada with essentially no possessions and unable to speak English.  I felt completely lost and lonely but started school almost immediately.

In Ethiopia I had trained in Karate and Tae Kwon Do.  In Canada, I continued my interest in martial arts by taking up boxing and participating in rigorous resistance training.  But learning in school was slow and difficult as I struggled to overcome barriers related to culture, language and isolation.

I encountered many challenges-not the least of which was the aggressive attempts of some to recruit me into the world of gangs and the illegal activities that go along with that culture.  I felt threatened and vulnerable.  At one point I was assaulted on the streets.  I was frequently harassed and bullied.  When I lost my patience, I would sometimes get myself into some trouble.  In 2015 I had the opportunity to take up residence at the Pan Am Boxing Club in downtown Winnipeg.  There I could train, coach, eat and sleep.  That was a positive place for me to be.

In fall of 2016, I was fortunate enough to be able to enroll in a brand new school, the Pembina Trails Alternative High School.  As the days went by, for the first time, I began to look forward to going to school. The staff members had time to spend with me and were always there to provide help.  Some teachers from my previous school also kept in touch with me and supported me during this time. When I was discouraged there was always someone to talk to.  The Alternative High School became a safe sanctuary for me.  And it was somewhere that I could take healthy steps forward in my journey.  There were opportunities to improve my literacy, prepare for my Driver’s Beginners Test and develop many other skills.  During this time, I had the opportunity to work on my Level I Boxing Coaching Certification. I was also able to complete the coursework needed to achieve High School Graduation in June of 2017.

Today I am working full-time in the Construction Industry. I have my own car and I am working toward renting my own apartment. I have earned my Level II Boxing Coaching Certificate and continue to provide both private boxing instruction and personal training. I intend to continue in the Construction Industry and hope to one day provide my family with a stable and better life than I had as a young boy.  One day I would love to open my own Boxing Gym in order to provide young men and women with the opportunity to develop their talents, discover their personal identities and have a safe place to call “home”.

The Pembina Trails Alternative High School helped give me the hope that I needed to believe that the future could be a very good one.  And I hope that many who read this will be motivated to work on changing for the better with the help of the community around them.  I want to thank the Alternative High School for helping me find a brighter future!"
~ Minty Woldomanial

Student Testimonial #7:

"There was a time in my life that I genuinely believed I wouldn't live past the age of eighteen. Pembina Trails Alternative High School played a large part in changing my mind and in saving my life.

I was just shy of my seventeenth birthday when I stopped attending school.  Despite the best efforts from my family, teachers, and school counsellors, I could not bring myself to get out of bed and get an education.  While my peers were learning the curriculum, I wished I was dead.

Luckily for me, I had people who advocated for me.  They wanted to fight for me, and because of that, I enrolled at AHS for the following September.

I wasn't a quick fix; I didn't even attend regularly until mid-October.  I didn't even attempt to do work, and I was rude to the teachers.  I was losing an uphill battle against myself.  I thought I was a lost cause.  The staff didn't see me  the way I did, though.  They saw me as a girl who lost her way, someone who could flourish if given the right tools and a little bit of help.

The staff at AHS are the most hardworking and committed people I have ever met.  They tried their best to understand our struggles and customize our learning plans to accommodate our needs.  The teachers were frequently adapting their strategies and thinking outside the box.  They are not only educators but also mentors, role-models, parental figures, and counsellors. They gave up their lunch breaks to eat with the students, and they stayed after hours to talk or play music.  The staff made sure to take an interest in what the students liked.  They found out what interested us and nurtured it until it grew into something more.  I missed participating in band class, so the teachers taught me how to play piano and guitar, and they engaged in jam sessions with me.  I still play the guitar to this day, and it is a great source of comfort for me.

The staff created an environment that felt so exceptionally safe.  I never felt judged for having a mental illness.  I was so embarrassed by it, and I didn't want anyone to see my struggle.  AHS and the people there taught me that it was okay to have a mental illness.  They showed me how I could still succeed.  They made me feel accepted for who I am.  I started the year shamed of my mental illness, and I ended it by writing my provincial English essay about my struggle with it.

The teachers care so much about the students, and it gives us a sense of worthiness.  I didn't care about my life, but the staff did, and that was enough until I, too, began to see myself as worthy of life.

AHS was my haven.  When I was losing a battle with depression and had the scars to prove it, I had the opportunity to heal in a place where my well-being was the highest priority.  I went into that school year with no motivation to finish my education, and I finished with a smile on my face and plans for the future.  I know for a fact that I wouldn't be here writing this if I didn't get the chance to attend AHS.  I am alive because of that school and the students and staff, and I am forever grateful for that."
~Anonymous

Student Testimonial #8:

"The clarity AHS brought me. Being raised in the inner city of Winnipeg, surrounded by drug use, alcoholism, abuse, and gang violence. From a very young age this was all that I knew, as I grew older I wasn’t able to envision myself making it very far or any further than what I grew to believe was “normal”. I felt bound to this life. Enduring my own struggles with trauma, drug use, alcoholism, violent behavior, it clouded the “bigger picture” even more.

My family moved to south end of the city and that’s when I thought everything was going to change, I was wrong. Being indigenous and from the inner city just made it that much harder, bullied from the kids in the neighborhood to being bullied at school. Here comes high school, I had a drinking problem, then came the drugs and violence. Got charged and kicked out of the first high school i attended. After a string of events and finally being out of the MYC long enough, I Made it to another high school since i was court ordered to attend school. in which I got bullied and treated differently from people around me, I didn’t feel like I belonged there or anywhere. This was just the beginning of my mental health downfall and drugs weren’t helping. It didn’t matter, I wasn’t going to graduate anyways, only had to do it so I didn’t breach my conditions or mess up my probation. These thoughts ran through my head consistently.

It was exam week when I was approached by this woman Ms. Susan Woods, who I swear I had no clue I existed. Low and behold I did and she knew me, she was from the first high school I ever attended. My math teacher explained how I would go to a meeting for a new school, so I did. It was strange seeing people who would end up being so significant but I could barely remembered in that moment. My anxiety was eating me alive.

It was a whole new stage of my life, wasn’t anywhere near confident. Barely had the social skills and tolerance to be around these teachers that were so happy. Little did I know how loving and caring they were, how they genuinely want to see you succeed in life. Before I was able to see that, ohhhh  was the urge to punch Mr.Ian Smith in the teeth, alive and well. This man was consistently so cheery and just constantly right there, asking me questions, trying to get to know me. Every other day just asking me to write one story about my life, just one and he’ll leave me alone. Man did I put up a fight with this man, I was just hoping he’d just give up and leave me alone so I could go about my business. Eventually gave in and he got his story, his excitement encouraged me to reinvest myself into something I thought I lost for so long. The passion to write, just to write about anything and everything.

But That was just the beginning to a whole new friendships. The patience and kindness all of the staff at AHS showed me was impeccable. They genuinely and wholeheartedly enjoy what they do for a living. So full of life and vibrant, it was contagious. All of these teachers and the EA’s too, they are so genuine and kind.

My life got brighter with each day I went to school. Mr. Daryl Wiebe, this man brightened even the worst days. Especially with his grape candies from bulk barn, they brought back this piece of joy I  vaguely remembered. Always so calm and so helpful, even when you wanted to burn your whole math binder. This mans love for science was what brought us together. The happiness that was shared the day I completed an after school Biotechnology program with RRC. An awesome memory I’ll share with the staff and the awesome picture of Mr. Wiebe in his lab coat. As if they were my parents, they were right there to cheer me on and support me like no other!

The bonds that were created at this school were rare and I wouldn’t want it any other way looking back at it. It was the different environment I didn’t know I needed. From Scrapbooking on my breaks with Kirsten and chatting about dehydrated fruits, to learning how to crochet because I know I couldn’t keep up with Tania’s mad knitting skills. Finally the early morning drives with Ms. Susan woods, that woman would not let me fail even if I tried to... and I did. I moved around so much and slowly started to give up on bothering with school. That wasn’t allowed, she came and got me everyday. If it wasn’t her, it was Mr. Wiebe making his rounds and picking up students on the way to the school.

 These actions that seemed so small ended up meaning the most because it made me see how important we all were to them and how much they believed in us. I felt for once in a school, that I belonged there and it was like a second home. They took the time out of their days to get to know each and everyone of the students at AHS and find a way to teach each of us in a way that was best suited for our own learning styles. That was definitely new and much needed, AHS being so unique, unlike any other school I’ve ever been to. To end up being so important drove me to do something I never thought I could do, graduate.

I’ll always be so grateful for the beautiful teachers and their wonderful hearts for investing their time and energy into each and every one of us that stepped through those doors, watching us not only to succeed but to also grow and flourish."
~Anonymous

Student Testimonial #9:

A Brighter Future   

School is not always easy; I think most of us can agree. Even if you can do the work without a problem, you might struggle with making friends and feeling like you have a place where you belong. Or maybe you have lots of friends and have a place you feel you belong but maybe you struggle with doing the work and worry if you’ll even be able to graduate. For me it was both.

In high school I had severe anxiety and depression. All I could do was place my head on a desk, and not lift it as if I was super glued there. I had no ability to make any eye contact with anyone, even if it was family. There was nowhere I belonged, and I was also almost completely unable to read or write but it wasn't always like that. In elementary school I was the happiest when all eyes were on me. I loved being the center of attention and I always felt as if I belonged. The work was very difficult for me though, but I was always able to talk my way out of doing it. I did what I was good at and that was talking, however that only got me so far. By the time I was in middle school, I still didn't know how to read or write. Grade 7 was the worst. I was bullied by my own teacher. I tried to do what I was good at and talk to him, to make friends with him. He told me multiple times I was stupid and that I was going to be nothing but a burden on taxpayers money. I only lasted three months in that class. That's the same year I dropped out. I felt stupid and empty. I did everything I could to numb myself. I hung out with kids like me so I wouldn't feel alone. For years drugs, alcohol and crime was my life. I wasn't doing good things but at least I was good at them. Eventually even that didn't work out. 

When I was sixteen my depression was getting really bad, and I stopped hanging out with anybody. I spent my days alone in my room. The only time I'd leave my room was when my mom took me to therapy. The school I was enrolled in but never went to was Oak Park. They got a hold of my mom and wanted me to go back. I was at the worst I’d ever been and had suicidal thoughts on the daily. But I did want to do better so I went back. It felt like I had been thrown in with the sharks. I was lost, scared, confused. I had no where I belonged, and I had no clue how to do work. I floated the first year, I just hid. I was in this one ELA class with a teacher named Ms. Peters and EA named Ms. Amy. If it wasn’t for these people, I wouldn't have made it very far, seriously thank you guys so much!! Ms. Peters never gave up on me. Trust me I didn't make it easy, even when at first, I wouldn’t lift my head from the desk while she was talking to me, she continued to encourage me to do work. It took time but I started to make progress. Because she believed in me, I started believing in myself. I learned how to read and spell and started talking again. But I was still really struggling and wasn't getting nearly enough help and support. I tried asking for more help. I felt like I wasn't being heard so I got louder. It was really stressful. They told me I'd get all the help I needed at a school called AHS, that for now I had all the help they could give. I came on the tour and wasn't really sure what to expect.

When I first got here it was a bit strange. It's so small and all the students are so much like me. I don't feel out of place here. The teachers are super nice and helpful; they never treat me like a burden. They understand we are all on different journeys and don't put too much pressure on you. They know if you showed up at school that day it's a win. We all have fun here; I've been learning piano and my teachers join in sometimes too. There's always cool opportunities like on Wednesdays I go to a farm to learn about plants, animals, and cooking! I'm also building my reading and writing skills. I get more one-on-one help. Really if I hadn't come to this school, I have no clue where I'd be, actually I do have an idea but let's not go there. I'm so fortunate to have had this opportunity. I'm even going to culinary art school in the fall. I'm in a three-month program as well to help me be ready for a job and I’ll get paid minimum wage. I don't ever want to imagine what my life would look like without AHS. This is the one place I belong. I came from a dark place, but I now know I have a bright future. 

- Tianna