For most Grade 10 students, history is a subject on a timetable. For Javier A., it’s more of a calling. That passion carried him further this past August, all the way to an intensive, in-person workshop in Vancouver where secondary students from around the world learn to research and write history the way university scholars do.
Javier was one of a select group of neurodiverse participants sponsored through Autism BC to attend The Concord Review’s History Camp, a prestigious, US-based program known for pushing students toward publication-quality historical scholarship. It’s the kind of opportunity most students only read about. For Javier, it became real.
- A Passion Set in Stone
Javier applied for the Autism BC bursary and was grateful to be selected. He’d always had a passion for history, but this was something more.
“This opportunity is a dream come true for me,” he says.
History Camp is an intensive, immersive experience designed to walk students through the full toolbox professional historians use: locating and evaluating primary sources, building an argument, structuring long-form research, and writing with the kind of rigour expected at the university level.
Javier doesn’t sugarcoat how hard the Camp was. As he puts it, “the Camp is originally designed to be challenging,” with the final output aimed squarely at a university-level paper, a significant leap for a Grade 10 student.
Previously, Javier’s mom helped with note-taking, giving him the support he needed to keep pace with the intensity of the program. But what stands out most about Javier’s experience is what came next. In his own words: “eventually, I was able to self-advocate for some of my accommodations,” asking directly for time extensions and extra meetings with his mentors so he could do his best thinking.
That shift, from being supported to advocating for himself, is its own kind of achievement, one that will serve Javier well far beyond this camp.
- Finding His Place
“Being able to be part of a prestigious and international group with high-level published mentors is something that I am very proud of,” he says.
His particular fascination with Ancient Greek history didn’t go unnoticed either. As Javier describes it, “I also was able to express my excitement in Ancient Greek history, and the mentors helped in guiding me towards a long-term goal of pursuing a Classics degree in the future.” What started as a personal interest, nurtured through homeschool electives and independent exploration, is now taking shape as a genuine future path.
Javier is clear-eyed about how much home education shaped this achievement.
“Home Education definitely helped, as I am able to explore history as a passion and encouragement in developing historical thinking beyond what is required in class,” he says.
That flexibility paid off in a very concrete way, too. Javier shares that he’s “thankful that I got full marks in homeschool activities/enrichment by participating in this camp,” reflecting how seamlessly his passion project became part of his academic record.
He’s quick to name the specific people and resources at HCOS that helped prepare him for this moment:
- Social Studies 10, which built his foundational historical thinking skills
- Mr. Brad Lemon, Socials teacher and Grad Advisor
- Ms. Monique Loots, Teacher and Case Manager
- Ms. Sandi Meyerhoff, Educational Assistant
- The HCOS Library, for research support
- Outschool courses in Greek History and The Odyssey, which fed directly into his love of the ancient world
He’s also grateful for his aunt, who “let us stay in her condo during our 2-week camp,” a reminder that achievements like this one are rarely made possible by a single person, but by a whole network showing up.
- The Next Chapter
History Camp wasn’t a finish line for Javier; it was a starting point. As he puts it, “I will need to continue researching and making notes for the TCR Historical Paper for submission to the publication.” It’s a long process, the kind that rewards patience and persistence, but it’s exactly the kind of work Javier has shown he’s ready for.
For other students with big passions and bigger goals, Javier’s advice is simple and hard-won:
“Don’t be afraid to immerse [yourself] in the world of your passions and stay motivated even if it is hard.”
Javier’s story is a reminder of what’s possible when a student’s curiosity is given room to grow and when that student has the courage to ask for what they need along the way. Congratulations, Javier, we’re cheering you on as you take the next step toward your Classics degree and beyond!
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Let’s continue celebrating the incredible students of HCOS who are redefining what education can look like.
