Several PGSS graduates looking at this year's yearbook

By Tommy Osborne

PGSS Grads

PGSS graduates reflect on highschool years through unique time capsules

Jun 19, 2025 | 5:10 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – As grade 12 graduates from Prince George Secondary School prepare for their next steps, many had a chance to reflect on their highschool journey in a unique way. Back in grade 8, students in Juliet Branco’s class wrote a letter to their future selves to read upon graduation, marking what has become an important ritual for many of the students closing out a significant chapter of their lives.

“I thought it was a very cool thing that teachers would do that stuff. I think I met all the goals I set in that letter, I said I wanted to make new friends and socialize with people. And I think I did a pretty good job of that, so it was a really cool thing that they did that,” said Bashar Kora, a PGSS graduate.

“It’s made me realize how fast it went by. I remember writing the letter, but I didn’t really remember what I wrote inside of it. So then reading it, it kind of like caught me (in the moment) right? I just remember the moment a little bit more,” said fellow graduate Azalia Zwiers.

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Branco says she’s done this for the last 13 years, saying it’s a special way to celebrate the milestone of graduation.

“They really get to connect and see how they’re connecting with their own growth mindset and their own goals,” Branco said.

“They get to reflect back on what they were like that first week of high school, and they can see how much they’ve grown and who they’re still friends with, and maybe some of the groups or some of the activities that they got involved in and really just reminisce about what they experienced in high school,” she continued.

The students certainly appreciated this chance to sincerely reflect on their highschool journeys, as it can be quite special to realize all the progress you made that you may not have noticed in a day-to-day span.

“When I first started reading, I just felt very pleased with myself, like ‘I did it.’ I did all the stuff that I said I was going to do, and it’s made me very happy,” Kora said.

“It was kind of cool just to see what goals I kind of set for myself in the future. I said I wanted to be a pediatrician, but I’m going into nursing now, so I guess I’ll see if I end up going that route,” Zwiers added.

Having done this for 13 years, Branco says she has no plans on stopping, as she’s really enjoyed giving students this opportunity, as well as also continuing to foster a positive growth mindset as these students end their highschool journeys.

“Those that have received their letters from years gone by, I hope that they continue that connection with school and learning and continuing to grow.”

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