Hey STM! It’s Isabella Arcari, one of your peer leaders!
I am currently in grade 11 and I have enjoyed my high school experience so far. I decided to become a Peer Leader because I want to spread positivity around our school community, continue to develop my leadership skills, help others, grow personally, and make a positive impact in our community. This leadership course is a great way for me to continue to work on my leadership skills and to make new friendships. During my spare time, I love to hang out with my friends, go to the beach, read, and play hockey and softball. I also enjoy school, especially the social aspect of it. I have many favourite foods, but I would have to say my all-time favourite food is a good bowl of pasta. My favourite dessert is strawberry cheesecake. My life approach is to always try to be open minded and to always appreciate what you have. A quote I live by is, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” I believe this means that fear can be an obstacle in itself. Fear or anxiety can deter us from the actual problems or challenges we face. By overcoming our fear, we can better manage our lives. My future aspiration in life is to get into a university in the medical field, in psychology or psychiatry. I want to be able to help those going through challenging times. After I graduate, I would like to have a career where I am able to provide people with assistance. As a peer leader, I hope to help anyone in and outside of our school community. Some words of advice: ASK FOR HELP! It is more than okay to seek guidance or support when you need it. Everyone needs help sometimes, and asking for it is a sign of strength, not weakness. MANAGE YOUR TIME! Balance your academics with relaxation and social activities. Time management is so important for maintaining well-being and academic success. Lastly, celebrate your progress, stay curious, and keep an open mind. And remember,
There’s "MORE 2 life" than being popular, and always trying to fit in. Be authentic and be your true self. And that is what’s going to make you shine.
Hailey Robin- Social Media Promotions
Heyy! I’m Hailey, one of your peer leaders!!!!!! I’m a grade 11 student, and on the Sr. girls basketball team, as well as an active member in the black student association. I decided I wanted to become a peer leader because, I wanted to be more involved in the school, by sharing any ideas I have, to make St. Thomas More a more fun, effective, and more enjoyable school. As well as be someone that people feel comfortable enough to go to for questions, advice, or just help. Being able to help others is very rewarding to me and that is the main reason why I wanted to become a peer leader. I have many passions and interests with some including sports, I’m a pretty competitive person so partaking in sports is definitely something I enjoy. I love trying new sports and I always try to be the best at them lol. I also am very passionate about diversity and inclusion, and I tend to be the spokesperson when I feel something isn’t right. Lastly but most importantly I'm most passionate about my family and friends! My favourite foods in the world are these, Fries, chicken wings, and ice cream. I’d eat just those forever if I could! Some of my hobbies are hanging out with my siblings, I have 4 younger siblings and one older sister, hanging out with them is one of my favourite things to do. I also love playing basketball, I’ve been playing for years, but as of right now I'm off on injury so I haven’t been able to play in a few months. Baking is also something i love doing whether it’s for someone else or for a snack for me. I enjoy it a lot! Lastly going out to eat with friends or my boyfriend is definitely one of my favourite things to do. For the future, some of my aspirations for the future include these, graduating high school, and then later a university, and then after that teaching college, becoming a teacher and being someone students feel comfortable around, and hopefully becoming most of the students favourite teacher lol. I really look forward to in the future is having a family, and having a big big wedding!!! Lastly I want to continue to be a voice for others, by speaking up for those who can’t or helping others who aren’t as living as comfortable as most. There is "MORE 2 Life" than just thinking about yourself, be there for others!
Julia Sitney- Social Media Promotions
Hi, I am Julia, I am in grade 11 at St Thomas More and I am one of your peer leaders. I became a peer leader so I can do my best to make a positive impact and create a safe space within my school community. A few of my interests are soccer and exploring new places. I have been playing soccer competitively for 9 years straight and I love it! A passion of mine is to travel across Europe to experience different cultures, foods, beliefs, and scenery. My favourite foods to eat would have to be lasagna and salad. I enjoy listening to music and creating art by painting or drawing. In the future, I hope to go to university to study architecture or immunology.
There is “MORE 2 Life" than trying to be perfect. It is okay to make mistakes, they build character and help us learn.
Mara Spoleti- School Outreach
Hey! My name is Mara Spoleti, I am a grade 11 student and one of the Peer Leaders here at STM. I was recommended to take this course last year and after hearing about the impact this class can make on the school, I was immediately drawn to take it. I believe the reason this school is so amazing is because we are united, and I want to do everything I can to ensure a positive and fun school community. My goal for this class is to help lessen the stress on students that will promote a positive and safe environment, all while making sure everyone is doing their best academically. I am extremely passionate about helping my community and recognizing the importance of stepping up and being a leader who will always look out for the best interest of everyone. I love history and learning facts, and I am on track to take the French DELF test in grade 12. I am a loud, outgoing Italian girl, who loves meeting new people. I am very approachable, and I love helping as many people as possible. Along with being a Peer Leader, I am also a Prefect, part of Halloween for Hunger, Christmas Miracle, and Knights fighting Cancer. I like to read and listen to music as well. My goal is to make a lasting impact before I graduate and aid the school as much as I can before I go on to university. I would like to go to McMaster University and once I obtain a bachelor's degree, I would like to go to Teacher’s College and become an Elementary School Teacher. I recommend everyone to take this Peer Leadership course because it is so fun to plan events and find new ways to better our school. Even if this kind of course sounds intimidating, I urge you to step out of your comfort zone because this class is amazing and there is nothing better than bringing justice to the people around us.
There is “MORE 2 Life” than a few challenging moments. Remember that every single day gives you the opportunity to grow, learn, and find happiness, along with who you are. There is always a light at the end of the tunnel and a whole world waiting for us to explore.
Lamar Saad- Promotions
Bonjour! My name is Lamar Saad, and I am a grade 11 student and one of the Peer Leaders here at STM. I thrive on helping others and believe in the power of making a difference in people’s lives. My roles in STM have shown me the importance of being a supportive and positive influence. I was inspired to become a Peer Leader because I believe everyone deserves to feel included and heard. I wanted to be someone others can turn to for guidance and support, especially in moments where they might feel unsure or out of place. Peer leadership gives me the chance to make a real difference in the lives of my , and I’m excited to take on that responsibility. I’m interested to learn about diverse cultures and learn how they shape our world. History is something I find fascinating because it helps me understand how past events affect the present and future. Karate and swimming are important to me; competing in these sports keeps me active and teaches me a lot about discipline and working as a team. When I am not busy with sports, I enjoy reading books, both fiction and non-fiction, as they offer a great escape and innovative ideas. Although cooking is not my favourite, I have a real passion for baking and love trying out new recipes to make tasty treats. I also like spending time outdoors, whether it is hiking or just going for a walk. These activities help me relax and enjoy nature. One of my favourite foods is pasta, and I enjoy it in all its forms. Whether it is a classic spaghetti with marinara sauce, creamy Fettuccine Alfredo, or a lasagna, pasta never fails to satisfy my cravings. I appreciate its versatility and how it can be adapted with various sauces, ingredients, and flavours. Alongside pasta, ice cream holds a special place in my heart. From rich chocolate to fruity sorbets, every scoop brings a burst of happiness and a refreshing treat. Both of these foods bring comfort and joy to my meals, and I love indulging in them whenever I get the chance. In the future, I aspire to continue growing as a leader and pursue a paediatrician career where I can make a meaningful impact. I’m particularly interested in life science, writing, or education, where I can contribute to causes that matter to me, such as helping children and human rights. I want to explore the world, gain new experiences, and use my knowledge to make positive changes.
There is "MORE 2 Life" than just following the crowd; it's about finding your own path and making a meaningful impact along the way.
Vice-President--Alexa Bello
Hi, my name is Rehannat-Alexa Bello, I am a 16 year old girl in grade 11. Honestly, I am not so sure as to what inspired me to take peer leadership, when I first heard about the course it was unknown to me, I had never heard of the class before but I was prone to keeping an open mind on the class to see what it entails. Now that I had read up on the class and have actively been in the class for some time, I am so happy it was something I decided to be part of. In the short time I have been in the class, the initiative’s that have been discussed are such wonderful things that I am so excited to now be apart of to make a change in; to actively help around the school to improve our environment and everything around us. Some of my passions and interests are things like food, I enjoy food, especially cooking. I love how we as a society have such different cultures, foods, spices, flavors smells, and more. I also really enjoy music, from listening to it to singing it. It took me a long while to be comfortable with singing on my own but with many years of practice, I participated last year in our Christmas assembly by singing the song, Silent night in front of the whole school. I really enjoy my cultural food, such as pounded yam, Efo riro, Jollof rice, Fried rice and so much more. I also enjoy my midnight craving of Buldak ramen, specifically, the pink and black flavors. As for hobbies, I don’t really have any, I find myself as a simple person, but I do enjoy reading, I believe as long as the storyline is good, I enjoy reading the book. I aspire to be a family lawyer. One random day when I was eight, my mom sat me down at our table and discussed different career paths with me. The one that stuck out the most to me was a lawyer. Since then I was always set on becoming a lawyer. I never knew what type of lawyer I wanted to be but all I knew was that law was for me, it was not until in the summer of grade 10 I felt that family law was for me and I am overjoyed with my selection.
To end off this introduction, I would like to leave my fellow peers with this; there is "MORE 2 Life" than you think. We mainly go through life limiting ourselves and our abilities, I say reach for the things you think are impossible. Even if you are so sure it's not going to work, I encourage you to still go for it, life is full of surprises and, God will always remain guiding you.
Presley Fortune--Treasurer
Hi my name is Presley Fortune and I am one of your grade 11 peer leaders.
I wanted to become a peer leader to help out in our school community, be apart of a change throughout the school and leave a impact on the school before I graduate.
I love sports, i’ve played rep volleyball for the past 4 years and have been apart of the basketball and volleyball team here at STM.
High school goes by very fast, my advice is don’t overthink things, high school is what you make of it. I have many goals and aspirations that I would like to accomplish. academically wise I would like to get in to a top tier university for sports marketing or criminology (haven’t fully decided yet) and I want to finish out my degree and get a good job so that I can travel and see the beautiful world that we live in.
There is “MORE to life” then how people see you, live on ur own terms and be your own person and the right people will surround you.
Natalie Hansen--Recording Officer
Natalie Hansen- Recording Officer
Hello, my name is Natalie Hansen and I am one of your grade 11 peer leaders!
I was inspired to become a peer leader because of how past leaders have impacted my life and I want to make the same impact on new students. I also want to be able to contribute to the STM community and to help improve it. Some of my passions are sports and music. I have been in sports since I was 3 years old, starting with cheer and switching to volleyball at 11 years old. I have also played volleyball at STM for two years. I also really enjoy music. I have played piano for 5 years now, and I love listening to music. Some of my favourite foods are sushi and pasta. My favourite hobbies are reading, playing the piano, and watching Netflix. My future goals and aspirations are to get accepted into McMaster University, specifically in the sciences. After highschool, I want to have a well paying job and be able to have a big family that I can support.
There is "MORE 2 Life" than high school, don’t let what happens here define your future.