Journey to Gold, Evangelina’s Award Story

Before the Award 

“Perseverance is defined as “persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.” Perseverance is a word my teachers have used to describe me since starting school. I have learned many lessons through my Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award experience; one of the many lessons I learned is the importance of perseverance. When I first learned about the program in grade 9, it seemed like something out of my reach. When we faced the pandemic later that year, it seemed even more impossible for me to achieve.  

Starting the Award 

Now, I am in grade 11, and I have completed both the Bronze and Silver Awards, and I am just starting the Gold Award. The Award has given me more self-confidence, valuable life skills, and the opportunity to learn new things. I learned yoga, how to speak Greek for my Bronze level, and I volunteered at a daycare. I learned essential photography fundamentals for my Silver level, worked towards endurance running and completed an art gallery for a local daycare.  

Award Activities 

Throughout my time with the Award, I have learned that I can accomplish a lot more than I think I can, just by having the right mindset. Until last year, running was one of my least favorite activities, but I chose to challenge myself for my Silver level. Now, I can run 5km in 30 minutes, and I look back and wonder why I ever thought it would be impossible! 

My photography commitment became a journey. I’ve always liked taking photos but learning cool and creative photography techniques over my 26 weeks, helped me discover my passion. As part of my Silver level, I started an Instagram account to blog about my photography, and I continue to take photos and post them today.  

To give back to my local community, I created outdoor and indoor art displays for North York Little Prints Daycare. I was lucky to work with an encouraging and creative manager at NYLPD to develop themes for these art displays. Through this project, I learned about child development, and my paintings reflected the various aspects of child development that I had learned about. I painted more than a dozen large paintings for the outdoor display that we hung in the daycare’s outdoor garden, each with a unique garden theme. This was a rewarding and fun way for me to give back.  

“One of the most significant parts of this project was that I could give back to my community and paint for the daycare that I attended when I was in preschool.”  

• Evangelina 

I am so grateful for these opportunities, and I am excited to get started on the gold level. I will always be thankful for the experiences that came with participating in The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award.” 

• Evangelina   

The Award is proud of Evangelina for her perseverance and commitment. We are excited to hear about her Gold Journey.   

We hope Evangelina’s story has inspired you to Join the Award, Volunteer with the Award, or Become an Award Centre.  

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