Recent Lake Cowichan Secondary School graduate Kenzie Roberts always has a smile on his face and an unending enthusiasm for everything around him.
Born in Vancouver, Roberts did not come to Lake Cowichan until he was 11. After finishing grades seven and eight, he began his time at LCSS. His favorite subjects were English, physical education (P.E.), and chemistry 11/12.
At this year’s year-end awards ceremony for LCSS, Roberts took home two awards: the Larry Eddy Memorial Citizenship Award, and the Wes Thomas Award, which goes to the most enthusiastic P.E. student.
“I have to say a lot of the excitement in my Grade 12 year was the prep for graduation — the whole buildup of suspense — all the teachers constantly reminding us that the year was almost over,” said Roberts. “I enjoyed all of my classes in my final year as well, and my teachers and peers made it very memorable.”
Roberts is currently working as a prep cook and dishwasher at Jakes at the Lake but will be starting his post-secondary education in the fall at Vancouver Island University. He will continue to live in Lake Cowichan and will split his time between the Duncan and Nanaimo campuses.
“I’m going to be pursuing a career in creative writing and English; right now I’m balancing between teaching English, and going into journalism,” Roberts said. “In my first year, I’m going to be dipping my toe in the water with many other courses so I can have those under my belt as backup.”
Roberts would like to thank many of the teachers who helped him get through high school and who made the experience an enjoyable one.
“Mrs. Battye is basically the LCSS school mother, she’s the glue of that school, and Mr. Battye is very upbeat and positive, same with Mr. Achurch,” Roberts said. “He was my English and P.E. teacher. What I aspire to be is kind of manifested in him; that’s why I looked up to him as a role model.
“One other person was Mr. New, my math and science teacher. He was always very humorous in all of our science classes, and that’s something I respect very much.”