“I was not able to find my place in a lot of different schools. I didn’t know myself or who I wanted to be. And I didn’t really meet people who brought out the best parts of me until I came to Oli.”

Before arriving at Oliverian, Ash attended several schools—but none were the right fit. Eventually, they left their school and were sent to a therapeutic wilderness program for mental health treatment.

“I struggled with chronic anxiety and depression, and had PTSD from a French elementary school I went to in New York. If students weren’t getting A’s, they were failing as a person,” they explain. Over time, it became difficult for Ash to trust that adults genuinely cared about their emotional well-being.

Their journey at Oliverian helped change that.

“I have learned to appreciate everything Oli has given me. I have grown more than ever in the last year. Oli helped me learn to process my emotions, understand the situations I’m in, and cope with stress. It has taught my parents a lot, too.”

“At Oli, there is no stigma around mental health. My team lead feels like a second mom. She has calming, genuine energy and is always there for me. Oliverian gave me the family and the community that I needed.”

Ash’s time at Oli was full of meaningful experiences. They especially loved this year’s school trip to Greece, where they visited small, locally run businesses and connected with dynamic and welcoming people. But one moment stands out above all:

“October’s canoe trip was the greatest week of my life. After a traumatizing experience at a wilderness therapy program before Oli, I had a very negative view of nature. I avoided the outdoors. I now enjoy being outside again. I used to have so much fun in nature as a kid, so it is such a relief to enjoy it again.”

Ash reflects deeply on what they’ve learned.

“Oli taught me that it gets better. When you are 14, it feels like the world is ending. Everything feels so big and important. Friendships feel like they are collapsing. But I now understand and see that worlds rebuild. I learned at Oli that I can rebuild.”

Now, Ash is ready for their next chapter. They just graduated from Oliverian and will attend Concordia University in Montreal this fall, where they plan to major in Psychology and minor in Liberal Arts.

“I am a people person. I love meeting new people. And I am excited to be back in Montreal where I used to live.” When asked why Ash chose Psychology as a major, they say, “At the wilderness therapy program, I saw kids with mental health issues who were so unwell. I want to help, and believe that I can now.”