In my Humanities 10 class, we explored Canadian identity by thinking, writing, speaking, and listening. We learned how stories help us understand each other, especially in a country as diverse as Canada. Throughout the project, we used a method called zettelkasten to organize our ideas, practiced the art of conversation, and created personal speeches about what being Canadian means to us. I chose to focus on the environment, and this is a reflection on what I learned through the process.

We started by learning about the zettelkasten method. A zettelkasten is a note-taking system where each idea is broken into small pieces and linked together. It helped me organize my thoughts and reflect more deeply on what Canadian identity means. I used it to track my ideas about nature, responsibility, and how personal experience shapes how we see our country.

After that, we learned about the art of conversation. We practiced listening and sharing with different classmates. These conversations helped me see how everyone’s experience in Canada is different, and how important it is to listen if we want to understand each other.

The final part of the project was writing and presenting a personal speech. We could choose any topic related to Canadian identity, and I chose the environment. For me, nature is the part of Canada I feel most connected to. When I go outside, when I hike or spend time by the water, I feel like I understand what being Canadian means.

Here’s my speech:

We used everything we learned in this project to help create our Spring Exhibition. Each group of 3–4 students was assigned one of 15 topics that connect to Canadian identity. My group got the Multiculturalism Act of 1988. We learned all about the act and how it promotes inclusion and diversity. We turned that knowledge into an interactive roleplay. I played an advocate for the act and made protest signs with messages that supported multiculturalism in Canada. It came together really well and helped us share what we learned in a creative way.

As part of the exhibition, about 3 of us including me also choreographed a flash mob connected to Canadian culture. Everyone in our class learned the dance and performed it during the event, and it was a fun and exciting way to bring energy to the topic.

This whole experience showed me how powerful storytelling and expression can be. Whether it’s through speeches, conversations, or performances, sharing stories helps us connect, understand, and build the society we want Canada to be.