Food at Nutrition Security!

This year’s Nutrition Month was something I’ll never forget. It started out like any other school activity—full of excitement, pressure, and yes, competition—but it ended up becoming one of the most meaningful experiences of my high school life.

At first, I wasn’t even sure I wanted to join the NutriJingle contest. I was nervous, unsure, and honestly a bit scared of what people would say. But something inside me said, “Do it. Try.” And so I did. I ended up helping choreograph some of the dance moves too, which was both fun and challenging. I never thought I’d enjoy being creative like that, but when I saw our group practicing and following my steps, it felt so rewarding. We spent hours rehearsing, sometimes even skipping breaktime, staying late, sweating, and laughing through our mistakes. Our voices cracked during singing, and a few of us kept forgetting the lyrics—but we kept going anyway. Those moments, though chaotic, made us stronger as a team.

This one was taken just before we performed on stage. We were nervous, excited, and a little out of breath from warming up. Even though we didn’t win, the energy we had that day was amazing. We poured our hearts into the performance. That moment taught me that effort matters more than results. And also… that glittery props are harder to handle than they look!

 

When the day of the NutriJingle performance came, we gave it our best shot. I was nervous but excited. We didn’t win, and honestly, that stung a bit. What made it worse was that some people, even from other teams, made fun of us. They expected more from us just because we came from the “special class,” as if that meant we had to be perfect. That kind of pressure really got to me at first. I felt embarrassed and disappointed. I even questioned if all those hours of practice were worth it.

But now that I’ve had time to reflect, I see things differently. We may not have won a trophy, but we won something better—confidence, friendship, growth, and a sense of accomplishment. I know how hard we worked, how much we pushed ourselves, and how we stuck together no matter what. That’s a win in my book. And besides, we had some hilarious moments that I’ll treasure forever—like when someone tripped mid-dance and just turned it into a cool freestyle move. We all laughed so hard after that!

Then came the cooking contest. This time, we were more focused and determined than ever. We prepared carefully, worked as a team, and gave it everything we had. And this time—it paid off. We won first place! Out of all the Grade 10 sections, we came out on top and represented Grade 10 with pride. I still remember the moment our name was announced. We screamed, we hugged, and some of us even got teary-eyed. It wasn’t just about the food—it was about proving to ourselves and everyone else that we are capable. That moment reminded me that failures don’t define us—how we rise after them does.

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Here we are after all the events—smiling, joking, and just enjoying the moment. These candid photos say it all: tired but happy, win or lose, we were proud of what we did. The memories we made will last way longer than any medal or certificate.

Through these activities, I learned so much more than I expected. I learned about nutrition, yes—but also about resilience, leadership, friendship, and staying true to myself. I realized that Nutrition Month isn’t just about healthy eating or winning contests. It’s about learning how to take care of ourselves and others. It’s about discovering who we are when things get tough and how we can rise stronger every time.

What I’ll remember most isn’t the certificate or the medal. It’s the memories—laughing while cooking, dancing until our feet hurt, cheering for each other, and proving that we are more than what people expect from us. I’m so proud of our group. We may have stumbled, but we never gave up.

if there’s one lesson I’ll carry with me from this whole experience, it’s this: Health isn’t just something we celebrate once a year. It’s something we live every single day—with every choice we make, every challenge we face, and every step we take toward becoming better versions of ourselves.