The Current - This town had just one graduate, so they threw a prom for one

Episode Date: May 22, 2025

Breanna Bromley-Clarke is the only student graduating from her tiny school in Main Brook, N.L. So the small town of about 200 people is throwing her a party — a very special prom for one.

How did the internet go from this? You could actually find what you were looking for right away, bound to this. I feel like I'm in hell. Spoiler alert, it was not an accident. I'm Cory Doctorow, host of Who Broke the Internet from CBC's Understood. In this four-part series, I'm going to tell you

why the internet sucks now, whose fault it is, and my plan to fix it. Find who broke the internet on whatever terrible app you get your podcasts. This is a CBC podcast. Hello, I'm Matt Galloway and this is The Current Podcast. Brianna Bromley-Clark gave a valedictorian speech at her prom this year and she quoted Shakespeare. The cause it is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves is one that reminds me that my future is not defined by fate or by chance, but rather that I have the control to shape my own destiny. And while it can be tempting to rely on fate for guidance, Shakespeare's words are encouragement to recognize that the true source of my future lies within my own actions, choices and determination.

Brianna also chose the music for her prom. She chose the decor, she chose the food. That's because she is the only 2025 graduate from her all-grade school in rural Newfoundland. Brianna lives in a small town of about 200 people, far up on the northern peninsula of the province, about a thousand kilometers from St. John's. My years at Mary Sims have given me tons of memories and moments that I will cherish forever and have me as prepared as I can be for the next part of this roller coaster that they call life. As I take my next steps into the future, I know that high school was just one chapter in my story, but my book is far from over. Thank you all again for helping me come and helping me celebrate.

With no classmates, Brianna invited the entire town to join her for her prom of one earlier this month. Brianna joins us now from Mainbrook, Newfoundland and Labrador. Brianna, good morning. Good morning. How was the prom? It was everything I probably could have dreamed it to be. So what were the dreams that you had for it? I always say I knew I wanted pink. Pink every, as much as I could get in

without being too overbearing. Cause I mean, the dress itself was just like a dream. Can you describe the dress? I'm looking at a picture of it now. Describe the dress, it's very pink. It's a full like ball gown with a bunch of layers. It was so thick and like it made everything so warm day of like because it was just so much fabric. But it was like a very bright hot pink and

it was all sequins on the top. Tell me a little bit about organizing your own, you have a little smile as you're talking about what it was like. What was it like organizing your own prom? It was up to me and my mom and my dad for like almost everything. And it was definitely busy because as we're doing this, like I'm the only student, so there isn't like a group to kind of work together on it. So I was having to piece out like parts of classes and stuff to help organize everything. So it was definitely just busy. I mean, I guess if you're doing it, you're the one who's in charge

and you don't have to fight with anybody else about any of the details. Yeah, it was kind of just whatever I said kind of went. Aside from pink, was there a broader theme to the problem? There was my theme, like my quote for my graduation, which I took from Shakespeare, like you said in the intro. That was kind of like the main theme for me. So I tried to bring in stars wherever I could.

So it was kind of like pink with a bunch of stars everywhere. You get to be the DJ as well, right? Yeah. So choose all your own music. Yes, I did. That's fantastic. I said that you invited the town. Who did you invite?

Everyone that I could really, that had like, that meant something to me or that helped support me because the town's businesses have been really supportive I could really that had like that meant something to me or that helped support me because like the town's businesses have been really supportive to me and like everything that I've needed to do over the past lot of years. So I invited all the business owners, the town, like council members and all pretty much the rest of it was like all family. There's like 85 people who were there or something like that? Yeah.

Can you describe, I said that the town is 200 people, a thousand kilometers from St. John's. Can you describe Main Brook? Very small. It's, we are, like the plot of us is blocked out as if we were a city. Like there is complete blocks, but there is not a lot of it. Like it's just a lot of elders really in our population. There's not too many young people, hence being the only graduate. But yeah. What did it mean to have those elders come out

and support you? That's a big deal. Yeah, it does mean a lot to me, just because I know that they, like having people support is super, like it's really nice to have. You're somebody who is deeply plugged into your community.

I was reading that you do fundraising for the Janeway Children's Hospital Foundation in St. John's and you've raised what, more than $45,000 for the foundation? Yeah, we just set up our current total for this year. It's over $ 48,000 now. That's amazing. Tell me a little bit about why you do that and what it means for you, as I said, to be plugged into the community.

Like fundraising for the Janeway is one of the most fulfilling things that I think I've ever done and will ever do. And I have such a sense of pride knowing that I can help so many young children and even people my age that still have to go to the GMI. Fundraising, the amount of support that I get from my town and just see everyone helping me out is incredible because I'm always either doing ticket sales

and they buy tickets off of us or I'm doing a walkathon and they're giving me donations and sponsors for that. It's just a constant support. I really couldn't ask for any better. Like everybody would know you in town, right? Yeah. So it's no surprise that they would all show up to celebrate you when you graduate? Yeah. Hmm. We were hearing a little bit of the valedictorian speech that you gave. When you're standing there in front of your town

talking about what you've achieved, what was going through your mind? I was really nervous. Cause although I do speak publicly a lot just because of all the fundraising and stuff, I still do get really, really nervous to public speak. So it was just a lot of nerves and I usually get a little shaky, but I was

just trying not to stumble on my words. Were you thinking about what you've achieved? A hundred percent. Yeah. Now what was going through your mind when you thought about that? I mean, how would you quantify what it is? Because it's a big moment, right? You're going off to something new and we'll talk about that in a moment, but you're kind of marking the end of something. So what were you thinking about as you look back on what you've achieved? I don't know, it just feels really emotional to think that like my life is going to change

really drastically this summer and in the fall and yeah, it was just, it was like a surplus of emotions. Yeah. You quoted that line from Julius Caesar, it's not in the stars that hold our destiny, but in ourselves. Why did you pick that line? I've always had a love for English, it's I think deep rooted in me. Like I do like Shakespeare, which is kind of a hot take, but I do enjoy it.

And I just kind of knew that it has such a deeper meaning that like sometimes it isn't fate, it's what you choose to do and what you are determined to do. And I feel like I've been really independent and determined and everything that I have I've worked really, really hard for. Pete I mean, that comes out in being the only graduate at your school. Can you just describe, I said this is an all grade school. How does that work? Anna Yeah, so we have one building, like one school and it runs from, we have preschool students all the way up to grade 12, which is me, and that's our school. So it is separated into

classrooms, but we do have multiple grade classrooms because of the low number of kids. And so is it all in person or some of it online as well? If you're the only grade 12 student, I mean, do you do all your work by yourself or how does that unfold? Yeah, so from kindergarten up to grade nine, it is like completely all in person. Like that was it.

But as soon as you hit grade 10 is where we have our CDLI program. That's the Center for Distance Learning and Innovation. It's where I do all of my calls through Zoom. So I'm on with my teacher and there's like 20 other people from all around the province. Like there's some from Labrador, there's some from Ron Conner.

Yeah, so it's like 20 of us in this one Zoom class with our teacher and they're teaching like through the Zoom call. What is that like? I mean, you talked about being independent and, you know, carving your own path. When you're studying by yourself, sure, there are other people who are around on that Zoom call, but you're really on your own. What is that like? Anna Being usually always independent, like my whole life, I kind of grew up independent. It was not that big of a challenge. It was just more so like staying disciplined. Because you have to be your own boss in a sense where you have to stay on top of stuff.

Is it hard? It can be, especially with like all of the different courses that pile together. Because they don't usually like they don't run together, although they do. So having to manage yourself like the seven courses is sometimes really difficult. You mentioned English. Is that your favorite course or what was the class that you loved the most? English is definitely one of my top classes, but I'm also a big science person. I love

science. So bio and chemistry are on the top there too. There used to be other students in your cohort, right? In your class. Anna Yeah. Pete What happened there? Anna Well, they just kind of moved away and like transferred to a different school. Pete Did you ever think about doing that? Anna No. I have such a sense of pride in my school

and like our sports teams that we had. So, it didn't even really like cross my mind. I just kind of said like, I'm sticking it out here. This is my home. Pete One of the things that happens when you get to prom is that it's often, I mean, you know, a big night that you spend with other people, but there's all sorts of things around that. You have, you know, like a senior skip day and things like that. Were you able, I mean, I guess if you skipped class, they would know because you're the only person who's in the class and if you're not there, they would kind of know where you went. But are the things, do you worry, like are the things that you, maybe you missed out on because you were, the grad sounded amazing and the prom sounded amazing, but that you you missed out on because you're the only person in that class?

KS Yeah, I always said the senior skip day is just any day I decide not to go. 12.5% of the class. Yeah, I always said the senior skip day, just any day I decide not to go. So, it was like, I don't know, I feel like just the sense of community and having like a class is what I miss the most because of like people around are all in classes and they all have that like, oh, we're gonna do this as class of 25 and it's like, well, it's just me. So, I can't really do much in that sense. Pete Slauson Yeah. That's gonna change come this fall. What are you gonna do next year?

Anna Winkler I have been accepted into the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program in corner park. Pete Slauson Congratulations. Anna Winkler Through Memorial University. Thank you. Pete Slauson Why do you wanna be a nurse? Anna Winkler I've wanted to be a nurse since like grade six. I've always loved helping people, whether that's with schoolwork or just in general. So the thought of being able to help

people when they really, really need it, just like, I don't know, I feel like it's what I'm meant to do. What happened in grade six that kind of twigged to you? This is what I want to do for the rest of my life. I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in grade six. So I think I had a really, like I have a really strong connection with my diabetic nurse. So like kind of just like looking at her and be like, I want to help people the way that she helped me through it. What do you think it's going to be like living in the big city of Cornerbrook? I'm really familiar with Cornerbrook already because we do do quite frequent trips in there

most of the time, but I think it will be different to live in there for sure. What are you most excited about in terms of being in a class with other people face to face? I guess just having someone to go to for like that goes to the exact same classes as you, and like seeing them in person and being able to talk about the classes and do stuff together. Pete And what do you think you're gonna miss about Mainbrook? Marylou Nothing or everything. Marylou Not of a mix of both. I'm 100% gonna miss my family and everything, like pretty much

everything that is here, living in a city is so different. Like even when we used to just go to Cornerbrook for a trip on the weekend, like I used to come home and be like, I missed home. Your family is gonna be really proud of you, but your town as well, like everybody there came to cheer you on and they're gonna be so proud of you wherever you go off to. Yes.

That's pretty great. Congratulations. Thank you. It's great to talk to you and good luck in the fall in the big city. Thank you. This has been The Current Podcast. You can hear our show Monday to Friday on CBC Radio 1 at 8 30 a.m. at all time zones. You can also listen online at cbc.ca slash The Current or on the CBC Listen app or wherever you get your podcasts. My name is Matt Galloway.

Thanks for listening. For more CBC podcasts, go to cbc.ca slash podcasts.