My youngest daughter, Pippi, graduated from high school this June. She graduated with an A+ average and won a School District award for Excellence in Fine Arts.
Our city in British Columbia has a wonderful lakeside “grad walk” tradition. The graduates pose for pictures at a fountain, and then take an elegant walk in pairs, in their finery, along the lakeside promenade to the ballroom at the Grand Hotel, where the prom supper and dance is held.
Saying goodbye to high school was a bitter sweet moment for her. She has absolutely loved high school and is sad to leave behind three years of great work with dear friends, and the great teachers at KSS Night Owl Theatre.
Pippi’s ’23-’24 season in drama included playing the role of Lord Wessex in Shakespeare in Love, and also her debut as a playwright and director, for her play, Homo Milk.
Homo Milk was hilarious and her work and fine cast had the audience roaring with laughter. She is indebted to Ms. Elliot, her primary drama teacher over the years, who inspired her passion for acting, and also to Mr. Long, who encouraged her playwriting abilities.
Pip’s extended family has been wonderful and supportive of her dramatic performances. Her Auntie Theresa (below) braved many a dangerous mountain passes, in the dead of winter, to attend her performances.
Pippi has always had a flare for storytelling and drama. One morning, before preschool, she dressed herself in a pink wig and put on a long dress from our dress-up trunk, and said she was not Pippi, she was a girl called “Angel Daisy.” Angel Daisy attended preschool that day and all her fellow classmates treated her as a new girl named “Angel-Daisy.”
I believe drama saved Pippi from the social isolation, anxiety, and insecurity that plagues the youth of this generation–disturbingly, they are the young “Guinea pigs” of the cellphone-social media era. I am also of the opinion that free-play is the key to fostering creativity and intellect in children-teens. Thus, I am beyond grateful that her high school drama (extracurricular and curricular) provided Pippi with in-person social interaction and an arena to play hard. I am convinced that the dramatic arts are key in raising healthy and happy children during this socially-isolating era of social-media fixation and pandemics.
Pippi also enjoyed studying law in high school. She is continuing her interest in law and her passion for drama at UBC. She is working towards a degree in law, starting her studies with a BA–majoring in psychology and minoring in drama.
Pippi was very fortunate to share her high school years with her dearest childhood friends and cousin. Pippi and “B” found time to play many cello and piano concert duets, and Pip and Ken shared three fabulous years in drama together; they even shared the role of Tiger Lily in “Peter Pan”–playing the character in tandem.
Pippi and her cousin, Artemis, started the same preschool together and graduated from the same high school together!
Pippi had a busy year, which included a trip to Australia to visit her two sisters and the chance to meet her new Quinsey rellies.
Below: Pip and Tabs with “Thunda,” the Port Adelaide football mascot.
Below: Pip turned 18 in Australia, where 18 is the legal age. Her sisters took her to a club to celebrate!
Even though Pippi’s two sisters were far away in Australia on her prom night, they were able to FaceTime her during the festivities.
Pippi is a curious, creative, fun loving and fun living, highly sensitive, deep thinker. She has a very sophisticated sense of humour that continually surprises me. She is very loyal and tremendously kind. She inspires me continually. In all honesty, I have never heard her say an unkind word about anyone in her entire life. Even when someone has been unkind to her, she never stoops to act in-kind.
Many of Pippi’s middle and high school years were during the Covid pandemic. It is a testament to Pippi and her classmates that they graduate as optimistic, capable, and vibrant young persons, despite these challenges.
Pippi continues to fill me with admiration and awe. It has been thrilling to have a front row seat to her art, adventures, and aspirations. I will forever be proud, intrigued, amused, and surprised by all that she brings to the world.
Leave a Reply