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Shivana Nanol admitted she was a little bit nervous about the walk up to receive her Dogwood diploma on Friday (June 20). But with her parents, brother and grandparents in the crowd, she was also excited.听
Friday (June 20) was a big day for the 20-year-old. In anticipation, she neatly laid out her graduation gown on a chair in her bedroom days before the ceremony.
鈥淚 got it last Thursday,鈥� Shivana proudly said on Wednesday (June 18).听
Shivana is one of two Howe Sound Secondary School students graduating from the school鈥檚 Life Skills program. The course is structured for students with developmental disabilities. Besides picking up skills in classes such as cooking, the program is a lot of fun, Shivana noted.听
Shivana has her future ironed out. She already has a job lined up at Nesters Market, but she admits she鈥檚 going to miss her time at Howe Sound.听
鈥淚 got a dance class award in high school,鈥� Shivana noted during the interview around a kitchen table in Sea to Sky Community Services building.听
Dance class was one of her favourite activities. She loved exploring movement to songs such as Barbie Girl and the Red Hot Chili Peppers鈥� Californication.听
Down the table from Shivana, her classmate Amber Richmond quietly listened in. Amber wasn鈥檛 nervous at all about the big day. She got a nice pink gown for the celebrations and was ready to spend some of the extra free time gardening.听
While Shivana said she would miss dance class, Amber acknowledged she鈥檒l miss Friday鈥檚 swimming sessions.听
The two will be able to keep in touch with each other and their classmates through Sea to Sky Community Services鈥� Life Skills and Community Access Program, which focuses on helping people with developmental disabilities become more independent through one-on-one support and group activities. Twice a week, the girls will meet during different outings organized by the community service group, said Wanda Jensen, life skills and community access worker.听
鈥淲e call it a girls鈥� day,鈥� she said.
