Belle Thompson
Meet Belle Thompson, the Palliser Beyond Borders (PBB) 2022 valedictorian. Belle joined PBB in grade 10 after seeing the positive impact it had on her older sister. She enjoyed the flexibility and spent her last year taking PBB courses while simultaneously attending a ministry school. “PBB provides me with the option of working when it is convenient for me.”
It can be difficult to focus for long periods of time, Belle enlisted the help of her family to maintain a strong and consistent focus in an environment that is much freer than a traditional school. She also appreciated the time PBB staff invested in her learning. “The PBB teachers and staff became my friends, mentors and confidantes,” says Belle. “My high school experience turned out to be infinitely better than I would have ever expected, and it is all thanks to the staff that deeply cared about the success of their students.”
When asked how it feels to be the 2022 PBB valedictorian, Belle says it doesn’t seem real. “High school is a journey and it comes with its ups and downs. I would have never been able to succeed the way I did in graduating one year early without the support of my teachers and mentors. I feel so honoured to be the PBB 2022 valedictorian.”
After graduation Belle is taking a year to breathe, enjoy life, and see where it takes her. She plans to continue in her ministry and work to become a writer. “I’m excited to explore life as a free individual,” says Belle. “All the possibilities of the world are laid out in front of me, and I get to choose where I go. In my opinion, that is thrilling.”