True success lies in the moments when we face our fears and find our strength.
It’s May, and the average school year is finally over. Now, it’s a great time to look back and think about everything you’ve done and learned.
Every student has something to be proud of—something that made them smile, feel more confident or realize how much they’ve grown. Maybe it was improving in a subject, making new friends or trying something new for the first time.
I asked Humber Polytechnic students one question: “What are you most proud of this school year?” Some talked about working hard in school and others shared moments of bravery, kindness or fun.
It reminded me that success isn’t just about grades—it’s also about growing, learning and becoming a better version of yourself.
Keeping it all balanced
This year was a wild ride for me. I finished my filmmaking program around mid-April, and I’m still catching my breath. Balancing school, deadlines and a part-time job felt like a constant juggling act—there were nights I was editing a project at 2 a.m. with a shift starting five hours later.
But through all the chaos, I met so many amazing people who made it worth it. We shared ideas, laughed through stressful shoots and managed to binge-watch movies. Speaking of which, I watched a lot of films this year—call it research or escape, either way, it kept me inspired.
And somewhere in the madness, I also got a PS5, which may or may not have eaten up a few weekends I should’ve been studying. But hey, we all need balance, right? Overall, it was a fun year, and that’s all that matters.
Overcoming challenges and finding growth
I spoke to Priya Mehta, a computer programming student, who shared that her first Canadian winter was just as challenging as her first semester of learning Python.
“I saw snow for the first time—it was such a beautiful view, but travelling in it was a struggle. I’m happy that summer is arriving,” Mehta said.
At first, Mehta struggled with her classes and felt completely lost, but by the end of the year, she was confidently helping others.
Slowly, she started making friends and also celebrated Holi with them.
“This year, I grew so much. Not just in skills, but in confidence,” Mehta said.
I also talked to Sukhada Kshirsagar, a student in the film and multiplatform program, who decided it was time to push past her comfort zone.
As an introvert, she was used to staying on the sidelines—quietly observing rather than diving into conversations.
“I’ve always preferred standing in the corner and watching,” Mehta said. But she realized that in the film industry, building relationships is key.
“I made sure that whenever I went on a shoot, I talked to more people and built connections. I challenged myself and it worked.”
Finding strength in challenges and creativity
I met with Emilia Arias, an international business student, who said this year was a “marathon.” Between long retail shifts, group projects and back-to-back deadlines, she often found herself running on little sleep.
“I ended up leading the presentation, which I never thought I could do,” Arias said. “Afterward, one of my classmates told me, ‘You kept us focused and you’re a natural leader.’ That stuck with me.”
Arias said it made a huge difference to have people she could talk to. She’s still figuring things out, but she’s proud of how far she’s come.
Ethan Miller, a game programming student, spent much of the year on his capstone project—a quirky tower defence game featuring raccoons defending a kingdom.
“I designed it, coded it and it was really fun,” Miller said.
Miller said his exams weren’t easy, but he passed with a sense of accomplishment.
“I learned just as much from failing as I did from succeeding. It’s all about following your passion,” Miller said.
Discovering their voice
Sarath Ravichandran, another student in the film and multiplatform program, started the year feeling shy and unsure of how to put himself out there.
“I’ve always been pretty quiet,” Ravichandran admitted.
But things slowly started to change when he began going to the Humber gym and playing drop-in badminton on campus.
“It sounds small, but it helped me meet new people and feel more confident,” Ravichandran said.
For his thesis project, Ravichandran decided to take on something deeply personal—a podcast about his weight loss journey.
“It was scary at first, sharing something so real,” he said. But the process taught him more than he expected, both technically and emotionally.
Noah Thompson, a public relations student, started the year feeling like he had to separate his personality from his professional goals.
“I helped organize a panel on inclusive communications, and during the Q&A, I shared a personal story about overcoming life challenges. People connected with it and that surprised me,” Thompson said.
Thompson said exam season stressed him a lot, but he managed to succeed.
“I had sticky notes and reminders everywhere. Some days it felt like a never-ending to-do list, but I got through it all and now it’s time to celebrate,” Thompson said.
As we prepare for the summer and look ahead to a new school year, let’s take a moment to celebrate all that’s been accomplished.
It’s important to remember that success isn’t one-size-fits-all. It looks different for everyone and it doesn’t always come with a degree or a grade.
So whatever you’re proud of this year, take it with you and let it remind you of how far you’ve come — and how much more you’re capable of.
Here’s to celebrating every step forward and to the bright future ahead.
Feature image courtesy of Brooke Cagle via Unsplash.
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