You may have seen Outlook’s newest recipient of the Youth of the Year award on TV a couple of times.
That’s because Chastan Sim, a 17-year old Grade 12 student at LCBI, holds the province’s annual 20-hour TV telethon known as Telemiracle near and dear to his heart, and he’s performed onstage at the yearly event in addition to fundraising for it.
“My first time was much more personal and face-to-face as I went out to events and sang, such as singing to a crowd of people at the Kinsmen’s poor man’s lunch,” said Chastan, sitting down with The Outlook during his lunch hour at school. “This year, I took more of an online approach such as Facebook and other social media, and I was also putting posters up around town. My mom was also a big contributor to helping get the word out. I also did a ‘Serenade for Miracles’ campaign for Valentine’s Day, where I went around and sang to people who requested it.”
Originally born in the Swift Current area, Sim and his family moved to this community when he was nine years old, so perhaps his upbringing in the Outlook area has helped shape him into the respectful and mature young man he is today.
Chastan says being awarded as the newest Youth of the Year was nothing short of a shock to him when he was told the news, but noted that it has helped give him a better sense of community and an idea of where he stands in it.
“I was shocked, that’s the first thing that comes to mind,” he said. “I was definitely surprised and speechless; bewildered might be a better word. I don’t really know how else to describe it. It just feels really good to know that I’ve helped the community in such a way that people have taken notice, and it’s good to know that I’m part of the community.”
As a young student on the go, much of Sim’s time is spent in the halls and classrooms of his school, but his passion for singing and performing takes him out into the community to share his talent with others.
“I spend a lot of my time at school here, and I’m in the middle of badminton right now,” he said. “In terms of volunteering, I go and sing to people who ask me to, and for example I sang at Luther Place for their Easter supper. I also sing at the church and help out there from time to time, and other than that, I spend time with my friends and help out at the farm.”
When it comes to giving himself and his time to volunteer efforts, events and organizations, Sim says he just likes to serve where he’ll fit in.
“I just like to dedicate myself in helping people wherever I can and however I can,” he said. “It’s a reward on its own as I don’t expect anything in return, and it’s just good to know that I could be of service to people.
This being his last year of high school, Chastan is looking toward his future, and his professional goal still involves a classroom.
“I’ve been conditionally accepted into the College of Education at the U of S, so I’m pretty excited for that,” he said. “I want to be a senior math and science teacher, and maybe do something with music.”
Having called Outlook and area home for almost a decade, Sim has grown up amongst the people who make up this community, and it’s them that he highlights as one of his favorite things about Outlook.
“Definitely the variety of people,” he said. “There are a lot of groups you can be a part of in the community, and there is a lot to do and a lot of people to talk to, and it’s friendly in that sense.”
When asked how he would describe Outlook to someone looking to maybe call it home, Sim pointed to the variety of activity options and the strength of its people as major selling points.
“It’s a very nice place and a beautiful town,” he said. “It’s a good community with strong people to stand behind. There are lots of sports and rec options, like the new swimming pool opening, which is going to be a great thing for this place.”
Chastan Sim will be honored as the 2017 Youth of the Year along with the Citizen, Business and Group of the Year recipients at the Community Appreciation Awards banquet on Wednesday night, April 18 at the Outlook Civic Centre.
