Sackville teen to attend national youth forum as bilingual ambassador

Sixteen-year-old Emily Jarvis says the benefits of being able to speak two languages are endless.

Meeting new people, greater career opportunities, preserving her family heritage - these are all reasons why the Grade 11 student says she has been grateful for the opportunity to have learned French throughout her school years.

And now she can add one more reason to appreciate her bilingual education.

Jarvis is one of 30 students across Canada who has been selected to take part in a national youth forum in Halifax next month, an event that will feature four days of interactive activities and workshops centered on the advantages of speaking two languages.

"It's really exciting. I'm really honoured to have been chosen; I've never done anything like this before," says the Sackville teen, daughter of Jennifer and Jamie Jarvis.

Held in a different city each year in February, the National Ambassador Youth Forum (Le Forum National des jeunes Ambassadeurs) provides bilingual high school students the chance to meet like-minded student leaders from across the country; learn about diverse career paths and possibilities; take part in unique cultural events; and, most importantly, share their experiences and discuss the challenges and advantages of learning two languages.

Essentially, the students will be young 'ambassadors of bilingualism' during the forum, a task that Jarvis enthusiastically says she will take on with pride.

"Canada is bilingual so I feel it's our duty to learn both languages," she says.

Jarvis says having the ability to communicate in both official languages of New Brunswick is rewarding, even if you're simply shopping in Dieppe and realize you can speak fluently in French with the cashier.

"It's a really good thing to be able to speak both languages; I'm able to communicate more effectively with everyone around me," she says.

Jarvis began her French education in Grade 1 at Salem Elementary School in Sackville when she entered the Early French Immersion program. She said it also helped to have an Acadian grandmother who helped raise her.

"My grandmother was a huge help. She's the reason I speak French as well as I do," says Jarvis, who explains that although her grandmother passed away several years ago, she recalls how she used to read French books to her every night and have daily conversations with her in French.

Jarvis is one of only two ambassadors who will represent School District 2 at the forum from Feb. 13-16, an event that is hosted by French for the Future, a non-profit student-centered educational program that encourages and promotes bilingualism in Canada.

She says her current French teacher encouraged her to apply for the forum, and Jarvis was then required to submit an essay on why she wanted to attend and an application form relaying what extra-curricular activities she is involved in. Jarvis, who just last year came in first place in a regional French public speaking contest, is co-editor of the school newspaper and is a member of the drama society.

Next came the oral interview, followed up by the selection process.

Jarvis says she was thrilled to learn she was chosen among the hundreds of applicants to take advantage of the all-expense paid trip to Halifax.

"I really like meeting new people and this way I'll get to meet students from all over Canada . . . to learn more about other places and discuss current events."

Jarvis says she plans to attend Mount Allison University following her graduation from Tantramar Regional High School, where she hopes to major in chemistry and minor in French. She would then like to pursue a degree in medicine and choose a career in medical research.

And she is confident that being bilingual will help her along the way as she achieves her goals.

"A language is so versatile that you can use it in almost any career. It opens up so many doors, it really does."