Hello Fellow Humans,
This month traded deadlines and project sprints for a cap and gown. I closed out high school as a member of the Class of 2026 and was honoured with three scholarships. Here’s what I’ve been up to, what I learned, and where I’m headed next.
What I’ve Been Up To 📈
I graduated from high school as a proud member of the Class of 2026, marking the close of a significant chapter in my life.
I was honoured with three awards from the WECC, recognizing community leadership, volunteerism, and personal achievement. More on those below.
Below, I’m pictured with the Chair of the WECC, Linda Johnston, who presented me with the awards.
We also had prom, a fun, less formal celebration ahead of the more formal ceremony I mentioned above. Here are all my friends below. Many of them I’ve known since I was very little.
Achievements & Highlights 🚀
I was very honoured to receive multiple awards at the graduation ceremony, all from the West End Community Centre:
Arnie Zucker Community Leadership Award
Carrie Samoil Award for Excellence in Community Leadership and Volunteerism.
Award for Personal Achievement and Community Involvement.
Top Lesson From This Month 💡
One of my biggest lessons this month: apply for scholarships and volunteer. Volunteering can feel unremarkable at first, but it’s one of the best ways to build experience, gather recommendations, and grow your network. I wouldn’t have received these awards without the community connections I built through volunteering, and all of this recognition stems from one experience that made a real impact: volunteering. The West End Community Centre works closely with the West End Seniors Network, where I spent much of my volunteer time.
Another lesson from this month: stepping away from screens is an increasingly valuable skill. I think I’m getting better at it, ironically, since this is the latest I’ve ever published a monthly newsletter, in part because I’ve spent so much time offline, travelling around Canada and spending time with friends before everyone heads off to university.
Top Quote From This Month 💬
This month’s quote comes from an Alan Watts podcast, where he referenced a fittingly ironic line from Lao Tzu: “Those who know do not speak. Those who speak do not know.” As Watts pointed out, by saying this, Lao Tzu proves he “doesn’t know,” a neat irony.
Shoutouts 👏
A heartfelt thank-you to my parents and friends for the support, encouragement, and patience throughout my high school educational chapter.
To my teachers, Mr. Yee, Mr. Yuen, and Mr. DeGroot, thank you for pushing me further than I thought I could go.
To the Vancouver West End Community Centre, thank you for three incredible awards and for being part of a community I’m proud to call home.
What’s Next? 🚀
I’ll be collaborating with Young Gun Studio (ygstudio.ca), a creative space for youth near Jericho Beach in Vancouver. More details to come in July’s newsletter.
Oasis of Change is closing in on 18,000 trees planted. Stay up to date at impact.oasisofchange.com.
Plenty more projects and collaborations are in the works. Stay tuned…
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Onwards and upwards,
Gabriel Dalton
P.S. Want more behind-the-scenes? For more in-depth discussions, check out my LinkedIn or Medium profiles.