‘ There is a woman at the White House who came to Montreal, who was educated in a public high school in Montreal, who lived what my students live ‘
For the staff and students of Westmount High School, there was joy on Saturday that former student Kamala Harris would become the first female elected Vice President of the United States
Elation and gratitude, the message of the endless possibilities that teachers, counselors and principals have instilled in the multicultural public school of Montreal since its inception has been asserted with Harris’ ascension to the White House
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« There is a woman at the White House who came to Montreal, who was educated at a public high school in Montreal, who experienced what my students are going through, in a school that has students from all over « Said Karen Allen, a guidance counselor at the school for 27 years » To imagine that Kamala spent her formative years in our auditorium, in our art room, walking the same halls, maybe be she went to a guidance counselor to plan a career
« I think it makes things so much more connected, when you start to imagine students when they leave here they can be anything That’s something you always say, but when it does product, it’s quite incredible «
« WHS Knight at the White House !! » the high school tweeted on Saturday from its official account, along with a photo of Harris and Joe Biden « She did it Kamala Harris – so many first WHS Pride »
Harris, whose father was from Jamaica and mother from India, came to Montreal at the age of 12 from California with his sister and mother and spent his teenage years in Westmount High School, graduating in 1981 Her classmates said she fits well in the diverse environment and is an outgoing and intellectually dynamic peer
At the time, the school was 60% white and 40% black from a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds, and the students got along well, the former principal said Garvin Jeffers
« Never in my wildest dreams did I think that one of my students would end up in the White House, » said Jeffers « I think that’s quite a step for a woman, and for a woman black, to become vice-president
« Maybe after one or two terms with M Biden, she could follow in his footsteps and become president «
For Allen, Harris’ rise to one of the most powerful positions in the world, and the defeat of Donald Trump, also resonated on a personal level In recent conversations with black parents in places like Florida, Maryland and New York, there has been « a strong sense of hopelessness, of not having hope that there would or could be a change. Knowing how this affects them, I’m really happy that there is a possibility of change and hope «
Harris benefited from the experience common to many Montreal public schools that were free from cliques based on race or wealth, Allen said
“People didn’t see each other that way,” she said. “You were friends or not, and you could have a bunch of friends from all walks of life One of my students told me: “I loved my experience in Westmount because I was comfortable everywhere afterwards »
If it hadn’t been for the pandemic, the school likely would have held a rally in the auditorium to celebrate Harris and the school’s accomplishments, Allen said Instead, there will likely be socially distanced events like « Kamala cookies Tuesday » Harris’s appointment for the post had already sparked interest in US politics and history at school
On Friday, sensing a victory for Biden and Harris, Allen and his colleagues composed a tribute which was read over the intercom to all the students
« We want to take a moment to recognize one of our own Kamala Harris was a graduate of Westmount High School and was inspired to stand up for social justice because of the connections and friendships she made in these same rooms
« It is no surprise to us that one of the most important positions in the world is probably held by a graduate of Westmount High School Its achievement is a representation of all the potential we see in you. look at Ms Harris, we also recognize all the teachers who guided her, as well as the amazing WHS teachers who are standing in front of you right now
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Kamala Harris, Montreal, Vice President of the United States, Joe Biden, Westmount High School
News from the world – CA – Westmount High celebrates former student Harris who becomes US elected vice president
