Hope 12 Patel BBQ

30 September 2020Freya P, Hope ‘21

As a storm began to brew off the Mill Bay coast, we Hopelings had a private dinner with Mr Patel at his house on campus, a coveted event treasured by previous Grade 12s. As Hope House made its way to the mysterious road past the Ross Building, past the boathouse, and past the Woodworth Gym, some of the 12s waited in anticipation to see our Head of School’s residence.

Each spring, every grade goes to the Head of School’s residence to eat food, play under the volleyball net, and join in the end-of-school festivities. This past year, due to the Covid-19 outbreak, none of this happened. Any Grade 12s who were new last year – or this year – have never seen the house, and the walk was new to them.

Hope gathered underneath a Canadian flag post for a photo before being ushered to socially-distanced tables set up outside. We enjoyed halibut, vegetables, fruit, steak and stuffed peppers in one of the best meals we’ve had this year; each girl had a huge smile on her face. The Hope House Captain, Nicole L, fearlessly attacked a wasp that was buzzing around our food – the first of many surprises for the night. As the wind picked up and we started shivering, the party moved to the patio with a fire and blankets. And Mr. Patel began to speak.

Each of us was given a piece of paper and we were asked to write down three things: 1) if everything about Brentwood changed, what would be the one thing we would chose to stay the same 2) what is the one thing we would change about Brentwood 3) a we met somebody in an elevator five years after we graduated and they asked about our high school, what is the one thing we would say makes Brentwood different.

Each girl then shared, and, one by one, our eyes lit up. As Abayah H stated, “[the experience made us] value our graduation class and enjoy it and our time here.” By the end of sharing, most girls were crying (happy tears) as Mr Patel said his final words of the night: “Make the most of your time here.”

“It brought a different perspective on the amount of time we have left and how important it is to cherish the people around us. I didn’t realize how much the Grade 12s are valued in our community and by the Brentwood staff.” This is what Emilee N said when describing her dinner at the fabled Patel residence. We now understand why the Patel Grade 12 dinner is such a cherished tradition: it makes us realize why we’re here, and, more importantly, to be grateful for the people we’re with. The community here makes the experience as amazing as it is, and it’s the reason all of us are so grateful to be back.

The night’s discussion will make each Hope girl experience Grade 12 more fully and none of us will forget that memory for a long, long time.

Freya P, Hope ‘21

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