Sinead Gillis-Johnson

Hello, my name is Sinead, and I am 17 and finally graduating! Growing up, I was sort of everywhere, which was confusing as a younger kid, but I am happy to be finishing my schooling where I started, which is here in Oyen. Oyen has always been the place my family and I come back to; with grands and great-grands having lived here at some point in their lives, it feels fitting that I have also lived here a couple times during mine! My mom, Charlene Gillis, has always pushed me to be the best version of myself, even though I know I haven’t made it easy. Being the youngest of eight—many of them half-siblings from my dad’s side—definitely played a part in that. I only grew up with two of my sisters at home, so it was easy to feel distant from the rest, but after all these years, I can’t imagine life in a big, bustling household anyway. Now, as I graduate alongside my twin sister, Shania, I wouldn’t have it any other way. We've always had each other, whether it was choosing seats in a new classroom or just having someone familiar around when no one else knew us. The changes coming next year will be a big adjustment for many of us, but it's all part of growing up. Wishing the best of luck to all the grads this year!