She set out to attain a high average throughout high school.
Goal set. Goal accomplished. In doing so, Belle Simonson distinguished herself by being named Outlook High School Class of 2021 valedictorian.
Belle is the daughter of Brad and Barb Simonson, owners of LB Welding. She has seven brothers, six sisters and said, “I feel privileged to have a big family and enjoy times when we gather.”
The Class of 2021 has had to deal with the impact and interruptions caused by COVID, most notably attending school every other day in the fall, and moving entirely online at other points. Belle remarked, “COVID made my grade 12 year fly by.”
Her favorite class was Calculus thanks to a great teacher and small class size. “It was challenging and taught me many important skills that are useful in everyday life,” she said. Other special memories include funny Zoom classes, history class and river days. Although extracurricular activities were limited by COVID, prior to that she enjoyed delivering Meals on Wheels, and participating in track and field.
Being a student during the pandemic brought many changes to school life, but Belle was able to find a couple of positives in the experience. “We got to hide behind our masks when we presented in front of the class making it less scary,” she said. “We also gained the skill to persevere through uncertain times, which is a great skill to have.”
Being named Valedictorian came as a surprise, but one she is grateful for. “It is an honor,” she remarked. “I know all my hard work paid off. I made my parents proud and fulfilled my goal of achieving a high average through all my years in high school.”
Belle said she was looking forward to the OHS graduation ceremony and receiving her diploma, marking her official completion of high school, as well as the parade which would be an exciting event. With a limit on the number of guests, not all of Belle’s family was able to attend the celebration but Belle, once again, was looking at the positive side of things. “Each graduate was allowed to invite five guests to our graduation ceremony. This meant my parents were able to attend, along with a few of my sisters. Unfortunately, my other siblings weren’t able to come, but I’m thankful for what we got.”
Belle has lived in Outlook her whole life and said she was going to let that experience frame her valedictory address. “I liked being part of a small-town where you know everyone,” she remarked. “I planned to talk about the perks of going to a small-town school.”
Belle will be attending Saskatchewan Polytechnic to pursue a Bachelor’s in Nursing Degree. She would like to become a Registered Nurse specializing in labour and delivery. Her dreams for the future include travelling to as many places as she can.
For all those returning to the halls of OHS, she has a message. “Enjoy high school,” Belle encouraged, “because it goes by fast!”
