Grads to Watch: Jordan Hill
Jordan Hill realized something life-altering when he transferred to Lake Cowichan Secondary School.
“Apparently, I’m a nice person,” he says, still a little incredulous at the realization.
Hill, 18, can be forgiven for not knowing that before he moved to Lake Cowichan.
It’s hard to know who you really are when you spend most of your time dodging bullies.
Originally from Sooke, Hill found himself a target when he started middle school.
“Every month they had a day where they’d track me down and beat me up,” he said.
Reluctant to speak out against his tormentors, Hill spent the next five years in a depressed, friendless haze.
“I had been to one birthday party, and visited maybe two houses, in that time span.”
But when family in Cowichan realized what was happening to Hill, they invited him to try living in Lake Cowichan.
“I really enjoyed it because, I don’t know — people really liked me,” he said.
As tough as it was to leave his parents, Hill couldn’t refuse an offer to stay with his extended family for the rest of high school.
“The people here are incredible, to be honest,” he said. “It’s the small community, it’s the teachers — they get to know you, they become your friends — it’s the students. I found out that kids my age aren’t actually horrible people that like to hurt each other.”
He still seems stunned by the discovery, despite his countless friends, better grades and boosted confidence.
“I actually started going to people’s houses and it was really weird for me — I didn’t know how to act,” he says. “And now it’s totally comfortable. Now, I’m friggin’ valedictorian, with Tanner King-Nyberg — it’s a double one.”
Hill also credits LCSS with helping him gain entry to the University of Victoria, where he’ll study fine art.
“I’ve been doing graphic design for about five years now — self-taught — and that’s what I want to do with my life,” he said. “It’s a good way to express myself.”
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