SAULT STE. MARIE, ON — Many writers, young and old, dream about seeing their work in print. For Grade 10 St. Mary’s College (SMC) student, Nate Lendrum, this dream has become a reality not once—but twice. 

In the fall of 2025, Lendrum submitted two pieces of original, creative writing to Polar Expressions Publishing as part of their annual youth writing competition. The Canada-wide contest, which has been running for 20 years, offers young Canadians a chance to showcase their work to a national audience. 

Lendrum’s submissions—a short story titled “Emily and the Moon” and a poem titled “Asleep Before Dawn”—were both selected for publication in the 2026 anthologies Fault Lines and The Shape of Words.

“I remember coming home and seeing [acceptance] letters on the table,” remarked Lendrum, 16. “I was still recovering from a mentally long school day. I kind of just looked at them, thought, ‘sweet,’ and then fell asleep on my couch.”

As the reality of becoming a two-time published author started to sink in for the student, he has come to realize the size of such an accomplishment at a young age.

“It encouraged me that I have talent, and that I can create stories that people find interesting.”

“Emily and the Moon” was a refresh on an idea that Lendrum started exploring while he was still in elementary school. He decided to refurbish the characters and storyline to create something new. On the other hand, “Asleep Before Dawn” was inspired by the current state of the world and how people seem to be driving themselves toward sin and destruction. “It starts off sweet, but slowly and surely goes down a deeper hole.”

For Lendrum, the push to showcase his work came courtesy of Mario Rocchetta, a teacher at St. Mary’s College who also serves as the school’s chaplain.

“My experiences at SMC helped me to get to this point,” shared Lendrum. “Mr. Rocchetta and SMC Radio have been very encouraging for me.”

Rocchetta would hear many of Lendrum’s creative ideas during their daily chats around the school and on his SMC Radio broadcasts. It made sense to encourage Lendrum to showcase his work on the national stage.

“Nate is a sharp and insightful young man,” shared Rocchetta. “I could see him light up as he’d regularly share his stories with me. I let him know about Polar Expressions and then worked with him to support his bid to become SMC’s newest published author.”

Indeed, Lendrum had to demonstrate a willingness to step out of his comfort zone and trust the value of his ideas. Though he’s traditionally written stories and poetry simply for personal sake, he recognized the chance in front of him to share his work and inspire future generations of authors. 

“The opportunity found me at a moment where I didn’t expect it,” reflected Lendrum. “I decided to take it under Mr. Rocchetta’s suggestion and the rest is history.”

At St. Mary’s College, students are encouraged to use their unique talents for the greater good. In this case, Lendrum’s knack for sharing stories, and his determination to overcome any challenges in his way, serve as an example of how perseverance, creativity and faith can open unexpected doors.

“Truly, our students are the light of the world,” smiled Rocchetta. “Scripture tells us that this light is not meant to be hidden, but rather shone before others.”

As a Catholic learning community, the staff and students of St. Mary’s College congratulate Nate on his remarkable achievement and look forward to seeing what’s next for the student author.

About St. Mary’s College (SMC)

St. Mary’s College (SMC) is a Catholic secondary school within the Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board, located in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. The motto of its founding Basilian fathers, “Teach Me Goodness, Discipline and Knowledge” has been modeled for 70 years.