Trin Van Rheenen is joining thousands of youth this month, graduating from high school and venturing into the wide world.
And like thousands of grads, he’ll be leaving behind four years of work, ready for the succeeding group of kids to pick up and follow.
For Van Rheenen, the Progress Pride flag that was fixed high on the wall last year in the lobby of Sands Secondary in North Delta, is a big achievement.
“I personally grabbed the ladder myself,” said Van Rheenen. “I felt that was a big step for our school moving forward because it wasn’t just some small rainbow flags on the door. We had the progressive inclusion flag hanging in our lobby to stay.
“It’s kind of making the statement that our inclusion isn’t only temporary. Our inclusion is always. We are always accepting, always inclusive.”
Since coming out as a transgender male in Grade 7, Van Rheenen has been involved in student affairs, via the Genders and Sexualities Alliance Club and the district-wide Delta Youth Advisory Council.
During the past year, a couple times a month, Van Rheenen and another leader with the DYAC and senior students, provided mentorship meetings to Grade 8 students.
Some of the meetings focused on identity and self expression but rather than just telling students that everyone was different, they got them to brainstorm and help them realize themselves that everyone has their own identity.
“It didn’t alienate LGBTQ issues as much. We tried to link the word identity, and separate it from LGBTQ specifically, so that it didn’t make it seem like identity is such a taboo topic.”
With the school year winding down, DYAC had its last mentorship meeting and reviewed the past year.
“I really feel we actually made a difference with these Grade 8s. We definitely saw a shift in their attitudes, as well as how some issues like bullying or exclusion, are in the school.”
However, a drop in tolerance has been noticeable in the last few years and he now hears more snide comments or jokes, or micro aggressions, which he can hear through headphones, as he walks through the school.
“And I’ve definitely seen that a lot more in the past two years or so. When I came here in Grade 8, it was nowhere near as bad as it is now.”
He’s talked to his successors in DYAC to ensure intolerance doesn’t escalate.
Another possible goal for those who follow are providing some gender-neutral washrooms in the school. That’s now being discussed though it might take a few years for installation.
However, every school in the district already has a single-use washroom.
When kids leave school, many don’t have a definite idea of what lies ahead in work or education.
Van Rheenen is in the same position.
He may go to trade school or into academics. In mid June, he had seven classes left.
“It’s very general, but ever since I was young, I always loved helping people, just any way, shape or form. I just want to make a difference for somebody. I want to make someone’s life better.”
