Samuel Chourot
École secondaire Saint-Edmond

If there’s an age when being different is more unnerving it has to be adolescence. Samuel Chourot however had to learn to deal with his differences when only a young child. Afflicted with a very rare disease of the joints, which curbed his growth and was a constant source of pain, the 18-year-old nonetheless never stopped believing in himself even though he got very far behind in his studies at one point. Thanks to those around him and his music, he caught up for all the lost time, returning to the regular program and even joining the international studies program. He is now about to graduate from high school at Saint-Edmond school and his perseverance has proved many a predication wrong.

“Despite the hurtful criticisms and my frustration, I decided to hold on to my dreams as tightly as I could. I reckoned my life was worth living and began to gain confidence in myself. I said to myself that, whatever people might say about me, I would be the master of my own destiny. I regained control of my studies, established closer ties with my teachers and showed them that I could do it,” Samuel says quite naturally and without hesitation.

Though today it may seem easy to say for Samuel, it has not always been the case. From the moment he started school, his academic route was riddled with setbacks. Firstly, because of the disease he missed quite a few days of school and was the victim of mockery from other children. Secondly, the fact that Samuel was a shy, withdrawn and solitary boy did nothing to improve his relationships with others. And then the loss of a loved one was just another reason why he came to be, to say the least, a dysfunctional student. As a result, from 1996 to 2004, Samuel changed elementary schools six times and integrated a special education class in 1999.

It was the same story when he began high school. But things were about to change. Enrolled in a temporary individualized learning class, Samuel swore to himself he’d one day come out on top. “I had never really learned to work hard at school. I had to peddle pretty hard in order to make up for all the lost time.”

And then Saint-Edmond high school finally gave him his chance by allowing him to join the regular program in Secondary 2. For three years in a row, Samuel spared no effort, attending remedial classes and even taking summer courses in core subjects. He even went so far as to enrol in the international studies program (PEI) where he would have to get even more involved if he wanted to succeed in keeping on track.

However, in 2008-2009, when in Secondary 4, he was hit by yet another bombshell. He had to stop school for three months to undergo a major operation on his legs. But in spite of everything, he managed to finish his year with excellent grades, though he was obliged to give up the PEI in Secondary 5. He also took advantage of these years to come out of his shell by enrolling in the theatre troupe and becoming a member of the improvisation group.

“Be it at school or in any other area of his life, his determination is highly regarded by all. His inner strength is a source of inspiration at our school,” says school principal Marie-Dominique Taillon with admiration.

But it shouldn’t be assumed that Samuel never felt like giving up, on the contrary. However every single time it was his music that enabled him to hang in there. Even now, a day without his guitar is a day wasted.

“When I was younger I used to suffer from insomnia when I thought of all the work I had to get done. I started playing music and I realized it relaxed me and helped me sleep better. And then it just became a genuine passion.”

So much so that Samuel formed his own rock band, is a member of his school’s Stage band, gives guitar lessons at school during lunch hour and is even helping to organize a benefit concert to raise funds for the school foundation. To prepare for his college studies, Samuel is taking extra lessons and practicing more on his instrument of choice as he hopes to be accepted next year at the Cégep Saint-Laurent in jazz guitar.

“Now that I have achieved success, I realise that by making the effort I can go far and I know that there’s always a way out of any kind of discouraging situation. And even though I’m small because of my disease, I’m no longer afraid to be assertive and make myself heard,” Samuel Chourot states.

Samuel Chourot
École secondaire Saint-Edmond