#ShesAHound - It carries with it so much prestige.

Meaghan Lees
It was August 1997. The place was Wilcox, Saskatchewan. A place I had never heard of - not even in passing. Back then, the Internet did not exist, so online research on the town or the school was not an option. I was going into this whole 'boarding school' blindfolded. Perhaps it was for the best?

Almost twenty-two years later, I remember that first day like it was yesterday. My parents and I drove the 9+ hours it took to get to Wilcox from my home city of Edmonton, Alberta. I think I sat in the backseat sulking the entire drive. On second thought, I did do that! No joke. I was a stubborn 17-year-old teenager who thought she knew everything about everything. Boy, was I wrong! 

Going to Notre Dame was not by choice. My grade 11 year did not turn out as planned, so my parents thought it was in my best interest to get out of Edmonton and experience something different. What? And leave all of my friends and move to a town that consisted of one hundred people? Yes, literally that.
We arrived in Wilcox that morning as registration was in full force. I remember hearing there were different sized rooms. With my fingers and toes crossed tightly, I prayed I would not have to share a room. Guess what? I got exactly what I did not want! I arrived to discover I would be living in what was considered the 'six-man with a bathroom' room (sadly is now an office). I would be living with strangers - five of them. As it turned out, it was the best thing that ever happened! Except for one, all of us were all "new girls" and in grade 12. We got along swimmingly. Twenty-two years later, two of them are still my best friends.
After I unpacked all of my things, I said my goodbyes to my parents and let this new adventure unfold. 

I thought of being sent there, I would detest it. I didn't. It was the complete opposite - I adored it! And, to be honest, to this day I miss so many things about it. 

I loved going to Varsity to eat. I loved (trying) to play hockey and basketball (it turns out they are not my sports). I loved walking from classroom to classroom. I loved going to the Hound Shop with friends. I loved the fact that your teachers treated you like adults- not children. I loved the school functions. I loved being a Chopper (green has always been my color). That school made me grow up and appreciate the things I took for granted. 

To this day, that year is still one of the best years of my life. I met the most amazing people, some of whom are still my best friends to this day. 

It was not easy to be away from home at times. While I missed my family (and dogs), I got to experience something that has shaped me into the woman I am today. I would never take that back for the world. I am beyond grateful that I will forever be a Hound! 

It carries with it so much prestige. 


https://justgiving.com/campaign/shesahound
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Athol Murray College of Notre Dame ·

P.O. Box 100 Wilcox · SK, Canada S0G 5E0
Phone: 306-732-2080 · Fax: 306-732-4408 (Confidential) · Email: info@notredame.ca