This spirit of giving back led to the Regional Office of Education naming her as one of Ottawa’s two Special Recognition Award recipients. This prestigious award — which centers on academics and service — is only given to two Ottawa students every half-decade; this is a really big deal.

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An only child, Greysyn and her family are close. She’s inspired by her parents and was named by a cousin who was constantly at the Carrier house when her mom was pregnant. When asked about the name’s significance, she admits it’s a bit of a mystery.

 

“My cousin picked my name out. I don’t know how, but he just came up with it. He was young as well. He was always at our house, and he always called me Greysyn. So that’s how it came to be.”

 

Both of her parent’s careers hold great significance. Greysyn’s father works for an electric company. Her mom works in a law office. She admires her father for his hard work and dedication to the community. She wants to follow in his footsteps as an electrician one day.

 

When discussing her mother’s career, she shares how committed her parents are to her success. “When I was little, I wanted to be a lawyer,” says Greysyn. My mother “got a job at a law office so that if I still wanted to become a lawyer, I’d have a better chance at it.”

 

Through a father who braves the elements and a mother who selects an employer based on their ability to guide and mentor her only child, Greysyn’s seen the power of hard work and perseverance. “Always try your hardest and never give up; anything is possible. As long as you try your hardest, you can do anything,” says Greysyn.

 

Greysyn is a living example of this philosophy. She’s loved volleyball since she started playing as a Central fifth grader. Her passion for the sport led her to try for a highly competitive traveling volleyball squad. Unfortunately, she didn’t make the roster. While she was momentarily devastated by the setback, she didn’t let it define her.

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“It was a big deal to me. I was practicing non-stop. When I found out that I didn’t make it, I was really upset,” Greysyn says, adding, “I just wanted to give up. I didn’t even want to play volleyball anymore. But I realized it wasn’t the end of the world, and there were other teams. So I just started playing a lot more and tried to improve. I practiced nonstop. I did a lot of drills.”

 

While many would have taken the failure as a sign that they weren’t good enough, Greysyn used the momentary failure as fuel and became a stronger player and a person. She made such a strong impression on the coach that she allowed Greysyn to try out a second time. Her hard work paid off, and Greysyn is a proud member of the team.

 

With parents willing to sacrifice and lead by example, it’s no wonder that Greysyn is a leader in her own right, serving on the eighth-grade student council. The Regional Office of Education’s Special Recognition Award feels like just the beginning. Whether she becomes a lawyer, an electrician, or a yet-to-be-discovered career, the company she works for will be fortunate to add her to their lineup.