Carrying forward the power of community nurtured at Selkirk College into the broader world is the ambition of the Class of 2024 is co-valedictorian, Jay Porteous.
Jay is a Contemporary Music and Technology Program graduate who arrived in Nelson straight out of high school in Kelowna three years ago, as she chased her passions.
Vista Radio sat down with Jay to discuss the why, the now, and the what’s next.
What brought you to Selkirk College?
“I really had no idea what I wanted to do after high school.”
“I did consider going into all kinds of career fields like forensics and astronomy, because I really enjoyed science, but at the end of the day there’s only one thing that I knew I would be happy doing for the rest of my life, and that was music.”
“I finally decided bite the bullet and go and learn as much as I could, so I researched around and a lot of the programs were either focused independently on the musical side, of it which was mostly jazz and classical in places like Vancouver and Victoria, and for production they were only solely focused on production.”
“They couldn’t provide the means to develop both skills, and I wanted both.”
“Fortunately, I ran into alumni, Noel Wentworth, who was from Selkirk College, and he let me know about this fantastic program in the magical land of Nelson BC.”
“It ticked all my boxes,”
“I could do production and at the same time, improve my skills as a musician, working on my primary instrument a guitar and also do vocals.”
“They provided a program that catered to everything I wanted, and made the program a stand out for me to choose.”
What do you think of Nelson?
“I was really unsure of Nelson at first. I had been here camping before and I loved it was a very artsy city and people were here were so friendly, but moving was a whole other case.”
“Now, I love Nelson because the population is a lot smaller than Kelowna, but it’s so saturated in music and art and theater and all of these kinds of artistic thing, and there is really no lack of opportunities here.”
Can you give us a preview of your valedictory address?
“I’ve gone through so many drafts that they’re all kind of swirling through my brain right now, but I can let you know that being a musician, there might be some musical components to it, which would be super fun. “
“I really want to talk about how important the school has been, not only to myself, but to others. And that, the skills and the friends that we’ve acquired from our time will really benefit us in the future.”
“And even if we change directions, we still have that experience we now have and the skills and capability to change directions when we need to.”
“You’re never really stuck into one thing, and there is so much out there to experience. “
“So, if you’re not happy in the moment, change direction.”
What’s next for you after graduation?
“I’m looking at trying to get into doing some live sound work and maybe even some teaching for guitar while I’m back in Kelowna.”
“I applied for a mentorship position at the Tiny Lights Festival that’s happening in a couple weeks here, so I’m going to be back down in the Kootenays again soon, and I am currently helping out with the Legally Blonde production at the Capitol Theatre.”
Interview end.
Convocation 2024
The 2024 class includes 1,033 learners across all college programs who will receive a credential and will take away a sense of accomplishment and set sights on bright futures.
The ceremony with take place at Castlegar Selkirk College Campus, May 30, with two ceremonies that celebrate the graduating class.
Co-valedictorian for 2024, is Recreation, Fish and Wildlife Program graduate Holly Macris.
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