Playlists to Philosophy: English 12’s Greatest Hits

18 March 2025Ruby M, Allard ‘25

This year in English 12 students have been focused on preparing themselves for the next destination. Whether that be pursuing post-secondary education, diving into the workforce, or exploring new opportunities, they’ve been collecting valuable skills to help them thrive in their future endeavours – much like turning the page to a new chapter in a book.

In Ms Hedquists’ class, these skills have been woven into fun and engaging units. Before winter break, students embarked on an exciting project exploring themes of “Music and Identity”. This consisted of researching two Indigenous artists, comparing and contrasting their music, and connecting these insights into a unifying theme. In doing so, students had the opportunity to explore different forms of music and educate themselves on important Indigenous cultures. Ella W Mackenzie ‘25 shares: “This essay allowed me to broaden my perspective on the creation of music in different cultures.”

Recently the class embarked on another unit called “Dancing With Life”, inspired by the Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff. In this book, Hoff uses the beloved character of Winnie-the-Pooh to explain the principles of Taoism. Through this, students are gaining insights into the philosophical ideas of Taoism, but also how to apply it to everyday life. Savannah J, Alexandra ‘25 says, “This book has taught me a lot and has really made me reflect on the importance of being present.”

As this unit progresses, students are tasked to reflect upon the lessons taught in either a podcast or an essay. Ms Hedquist is a big advocate of this unit and shares “I want to give the Grade 12s the opportunity to take a breath during this stressful year of Big Decisions. I want to give them time to reflect upon who they are, to consider how they respond to past and present situations and how they might choose to move through challenges in the future. I want them to know that trusting their gut is usually the right thing to do, and to know that being their authentic selves is exactly what the world needs from them. I’m not trying to convert anyone to Taoism, but I do hope that some of the lessons in the book can resonate with most students”.

Through the mix of creative exploration and thoughtful reflection, Ms Hedquist is teaching her students to stay grounded and true to themselves, no matter where their journeys take them.

Ruby M, Allard ‘25

Where Students Choose To Be