A Girls Guide to Surviving High School with Sumera

February 3, 2020

Wouldn’t it be great to have the perfect survival guide while trekking through high school? A guide that you could open up and it is filled with amazing tips and tricks that can help you get through any situation? High school is said to be some of the best and worst days of our life. There are a lot of things we go through that we keep to ourselves because we believe that no one will understand.

Sameera, one of our after school program staff at the Club came to us with a sacred book that could save the lives, and fulfill positive experiences for all young people going through high school. A Girls Guide to Surviving High School, written by various young women as part of the program S.I.S.T.A. (Sisters Inspiring Sisters to Achieve) at the school we once knew as David and Mary Thompson. It is a collection of true stories related to their experiences in high school. The stories offer useful tips at the end of each one to support young women who may be experiencing the same issues.

The program was a space where young women could come together, discuss the issues they were facing. They would establish healthy coping mechanisms to push through.

When they left high school, they were asked to come back for group sessions to put the book together.

The high school the young writers attended.

“No one truly shared everything they were going through in high school before we left… so when we got together after high school we cried and laughed a lot when putting the book together. It was like a therapy session.”

Sameera told us her story was about her lack of understanding around ADHD. She didn’t know she had it. After connecting with a teacher, she went and got diagnosed for ADHD at her local doctor’s office. The experience encouraged her to seek the proper help and fully grasp the meaning of ADHD. She explains that she would always struggle with understanding herself. It had a major impact on her progression in school and her self-esteem. She was aware of the stigmas related to diagnoses like ADHD, and she was afraid to accept the idea of her being diagnosed with this condition.

“I was always very emotional, and very fidgety, and I didn’t understand why until I was diagnosed”, Sameera shared.

“I was able to reflect on how having ADHD impacted my learning and who I was through the development of the book… it was hard for my family to understand and accept at the time. In our culture, these things don’t happen. I was glad I could use the book as a tool to share my story. My experience has inspired me to be proud of who I am no matter what.”

In order to ensure the collective narratives were as truthful as possible, the young women were allowed to write their stories anonymously. The storieranged from struggling with their grades, to relationships, friendships and mental health. The honesty and integrity that the young women portrayed in the book made it easier for readers to relate to.

If it is one thing Sameera would like readers to take from the book is that “you are not alone”.

Many times, we fight personal battles that we believe no one else will understand. We struggle and choose not to get the support we need. We feel a sense of loneliness and sadness. High school is a place where you are exploring many sides of who you are and if you are facing a battle that you believe you cannot handle on your own, reach out to a mentor. You aren’t alone and someone will be able to help you see experiences through an alternate lens.

If you would like a copy of the book please email us at: socialmedia@esbgc.ca