Project POV: Gordon Bell High School students craft compelling personal narratives

Young people often have incredible stories to tell and the students at Gordon Bell High School are living proof of that.

Dozens of students from the West End Winnipeg school came to CBC Manitoba's studios in October for a day of workshops on photography, writing, audio and more. It was part of an initiative called Project POVthat aims to help young people recognize the value of their own stories.

The students were paired up with mentors who have been helping them craft their stories over the last few months.

Some of the projects use audio to tell a storylike the students who talked about local music, homeschooling, bullying and learning disabilities. One student talked about how watching her sister overcome discrimination as a refugee inspired her, and another talked about how video gamesbecameboth an escape from poverty,and a reminder of it.

Other students used audio to tackle subjects like surviving war, being afraid of the future, moving from a small town to a city and learning to accept yourself.

Some projects, meanwhile, usedvideo to tell their stories about topics like the power of dance, the meaning of love and what it means to have a friendin a time of need. One student created a video where she wonders whether she will ever see her war-torn home country again, and another looked into how different life is for teens today than it was for past generations.

Some of the projects used the written word or illustrations to tell powerful stories about the influence of things like art, theatre and perspective in their lives. One pair of students even created a completely illustrated narrative that takes the reader into what it feels like to experiencepanic.

The students are now sharing their work publicly for the first time.

Here are some of their stories.

How my sister's resilience inspired me

Grade 12 student Aya Alshareh talks about how watching her older sister overcome discrimination and other barriers to education as a Syrian refugee in Lebanon inspired her to keep a positive attitude through her own struggles when her family immigrated to Canada.

CBC mentor: Nelly Gonzalez

Learning to love yourself

Grade 11 student Clary Ines shares a project exploring the power of perspective in a journey to learn self love.

On mobile and can't see the document? Clickhereto read it online.

CBC mentor: Caroline Barghout

'Dizzying, blurring, fading': An illustration of panic

Grade 11 students Eva Lauder and Leo Beam share a visual interpretation of challenging internal forces.

On mobile and can't see the document? Clickhereto read it online.

CBC mentor: Jillian Taylor

Escapingfrom reality

Grade 12 student Isaac Campeau explores how video games becamean escape from, but also a reminder of, his family's struggles with poverty.

CBC mentor: Bridget Forbes

Learning perseverance through hardship

Grade 11 student Isra Alshareh tells the story of how the war in her home country of Syria marked the end of her childhood and taught her the importance of fighting to overcome challenges.

On mobile and can't see the document? Clickhereto read it online.

CBC mentor: Meagan Fiddler

Fear of the future

In an audio exploration of the pressure to succeed, Grade 10 student Jade Castel wonders what she wants to do with her life and realizes it's not a simple answer.

CBC mentors: Austin Grabish, Lyzaville Sale

How dance changed my life

Grade 10 student Jaedyn Williams talks about how dance has taught her how to deal with stress, stay focused and tell her story in a way that makes sense to her.

How dance changed my life

5 years ago

Duration 2:08

Jaedyn Williams talks about how dance has taught her how to deal with stress, stay focused and tell her story in a way that makes sense to her.

On mobile and can't see the document? Clickhereto read it online.

CBC mentors: Lenard Monkman, Lyzaville Sale

'It can make someone's day'

Grade 10 student Javelin Robertson talks about how friends helped her learn to deal with anxiety, and how she tries to help others now.

The power of a compliment

5 years ago

Duration 2:52

Javelin Robertson talks about how friends helped her learn to deal with anxiety, and how she tries to help others now.

CBC mentors: Brett Purdy, Karen Pauls

What is love?

Grade 10 student Jerreme Macam explains how people in his life taught him what love can look like.

What is love?

5 years ago

Duration 3:19

Jerreme Macam explains how people in his life taught him what love can look like.

On mobile and can't see the document? Clickhereto read it online.

CBC mentor: Donna Carreiro

'It's so inspiring': The power of theatre

Grade 12 student Katrina Lengsavath talks about how performing arts influenced her life and changed her perspective.

On mobile and can't see the document? Clickhereto read it online.

CBC mentor: Marjorie Dowhos

Bridging generations

Grade 10 student Olicel Carungay talks to people from different generations about their experiences as teenagers to find out how much has changed.

Life as a teenager: Then vs. Now

5 years ago

Duration 0:46

Olicel Carunga, a student at Gordon Bell High School, reads the introduction to her online piece. She wanted to examine what it is like to be a teen today and how adults remember their teenage years.

On mobile and can't see the document? Clickhereto read it online.

CBC mentor: Kristin Annable

Adapting to city life

Grade 9 student Oliver Heaman-Warne grew up in the small town of Homewood, Man. He describes growing up without anyone around and adjusting to life in the city.

CBC mentor: Julie Dupre

'I pray each day for my home'

Grade 10 student Sadaf Saberi remembers the war-torn country she grew up in, and wonders if she'll ever be able to go back.

My country

5 years ago

Duration 4:17

Sadaf Saberi remembers the war-torn country she grew up in, and wonders if shell ever be able to go back.

CBC mentor: Alana Cole

Breaking the stigma around learning disabilities

Grade 12 student Salina Tewelde talks about how her learning disability made school a challenge, how she finally learned to believe in herself, and how we can all help break stigma around learning disabilities.

CBC mentors: Brett Purdy, Karen Pauls

Lessons from homeschool

Former homeschoolerand current Grade 12 student Sequoia Robertsonshares the fears, failuresand triumphs that came with making the transition to school in the city.

On mobile and can't see the document? Clickhereto read it online.

CBC mentor: Robin Summerfield

The path to becoming me

Grade 10 student Soe Aye talks about how an experience with bullying at school made herthe person she is today and taught her what it means to be a real friend.

CBC mentor: Holly Caruk

A journey of identity

Grade 10 student Sudan Parke is half-Filipino and half-Jamaican. She speaks of her experience, the hardships of being a mixed child and how she learned to accept herself.

CBC mentor: Stephanie Cram

Moved by music

Grade 12 student Tuva Bergstrom explains how getting involved in Winnipeg's music scene changed her life, and talks to fellow musicians about what makes the local scene so special.

CBC mentors: Colton Hutchinson, Bryan Harder

Dreams of becoming an artist

Grade 12 student Zion Payawal shares how art has helped him overcome the struggles he and his family faced after coming to Canada from the Philippines.

On mobile and can't see the document? Clickhereto read it online.

CBC mentor: Sarah Petz