Spotlight

TCK Spotlight: Canaan McDougle

This month is unlike the previous ones, as clay is officially shutting down. Taking in this sorry loss, I decided to spotlight an avid fan of our glorious magazine. Meet Canaan McDougle, a 15-year-old junior and TCK living in Klaipėda, Lithuania. This is his first year with TPS and he’s currently taking Physics, English 4/5/6 Western Lit & Comp, and Economics. He often frequents TPS Forums so if you wish to join his month-long mourning of clay, you’ll know where to find him. 

Being an extrovert, Canaan always enjoys socializing in his free time. However, when he’s alone, he plays chess, reads fantasy and science fiction, plays Apex Legends, cycles distance and speed, and listens to great music like NF. 

Even though Canaan is only 15, he’s lived in 11-13 homes and 5 countries in total! These include the US, Russia, Ukraine, China, and now Lithuania. This has led to Canaan gaining a great appreciation for the world’s many diverse cultures. He’s also accumulated an impressive collection of keychains from the various places he’s visited.

Canaan is originally from the US and has since lived there for a total of 3 years–  a different time each year. He first became a TCK when he was 1. While he used to strongly consider himself an American, Canaan’s ties with his passport country have lessened as time passes. It helps that ever since moving to Lithuania, his appearance doesn’t immediately mark him as a foreigner, whereas in China, it was obvious to everyone that he was “different.” Canaan does not define himself as Lithuanian or American, which is a common experience for TCKs. 

Another common TCK scenario are the painful traveling experiences– although everyone has dealt with those to some degree. Canaan retells a memorable move from Russia to Ukraine 12 years ago. Right before his family were about to board the plane, his father was called to talk to the airport personnel because of a suspicious “cultural artifact.” Of course, it was just a souvenir from New Zealand, but it took his remaining Rupees to make it on the plane in time. 

For himself, Canaan says it’s entertaining when people talk about him in their language, unaware he can understand what they’re saying. When this happens, he turns around and makes a bland remark in the conversation. Their reactions are quite fun, he admits. On the other hand, a not-so-fun experience was when Canaan played a chess tournament in China 2 years ago. He won his previous section but lost all of his next games against a 7-year-old. It was certainly both humbling and embarrassing, especially since everyone wanted to watch the sole white guy there lose to a little kid. 

Now, onto more tragic content… when Canaan was first told of the clay news, he was devastated! He hasn’t yet had the time to fully appreciate these wonderful TPS students’ innovative and creative minds. (Yes, we’re the peak of innovation and creativity.) Nevertheless, he would like to thank the clay team for dedicating their time to bless readers with insight or laughter. He has the utmost respect for them all and will sorely miss their writing. 

The biggest loss is that Canaan’s days will be devoid of pleasure while studying. After all, he no longer has something entertaining to do that looks like school (in case The Parents™ show up). In his own words, “No more easy procrastination!” Now it seems that Canaan’s last resort will be to engage with fellow TCKs through Forums… which will hopefully not be removed as well. Forums has been great way for Canaan to connect with people like him and he recommends for anyone reading this to check it out!

To wrap up, Canaan shares a verse which resounds with him and is related to recent circumstances. Philippians 4:7 says, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (ESV). Having to deal with loss and abandonment is a regular part of being a TCK, like when friends, family, and clay are gone. But Paul reminds us that God knows everything better than we do and will be the light to guide us. 

Thank you, Canaan, for your thoughtful answers and deep love of clay. To the readers, please dress in black for the following month in order to properly mourn TPS’s loss. Thank you, once again, for reading the last TCK/MK Spotlight article. 

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