June 16th, 2026

Written by Amer, a student form Bluevale Collegiate Institute

When I came to high school, I was shy, nervous, overwhelmed and very quiet. I felt that I lacked self-confidence. I also have a condition called hypochondroplasia, which means I am of short height. I was scared of what others would say and think about me.

In Grade 10, I joined the wrestling team at my school. From the first year, I felt this sport was for me. My size didn’t matter; what mattered was the work I put into my skill development.  

I immediately made friends on the team and felt I belonged. As I became more confident, my attendance at school improved. As I got better at wrestling, I started to feel more of a sense of belonging. A lot of people at the school would attend the matches to encourage me and cheer for me.  

I also joined the KW Kaos Wrestling team to help me get even better. This helped me become more independent and more confident. I also built relationships in the wrestling community. So far, I have gone to tournaments throughout Ontario and even travelled to Edmonton with my team for Nationals. Recently, I won Bronze at the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA). Last year, at OFSAA, I was also awarded the Most-Valuable Player. It was one of the greatest experiences and memories with wrestling.  

When I’m on the mat, I’m just another wrestler, and my disabilities don’t matter. The things I have learned and the experiences I have had as a wrestler have helped me in all aspects of my life – school, work, relationships, managing my time and the value of always giving my best.

I am proud to be a wrestler, and my family, coach and friends are proud of me. 

#StudentVoice Series

This article is written by a WRDSB student. Student journalists embody WRDSB’s commitment to creating space for students to tell their stories. They are ambassadors for their peers as they share their personal experiences and stories about their schools and communities in their unique voices.