Leaders 11

31 May 2012Emily R & Taryn O

Every year there comes a time when a new grad class must rise. New student leaders will make up a new Student Executive Council, and houses will be led by a new group of prefects. Before this time comes, however, the upcoming class must be prepared for the next year and the challenges that will come with working together.

The word leader is defined as “a person followed by others”, and though many individuals exuded leadership potential at this past Sunday’s Leaders 11, it was the coming together of the unified graduating Class of 2013 that really shined through.

This past Sunday, the 131 members of Grad 2013, along with 21 volunteer graduates, were bussed to Camp Easter Seals on Shawnigan Lake to take part in a day jam packed with team-building activities. Leaders 11 began at 10:30 when students were asked to meet in their assigned groups where they received both team bandannas and a handy dandy duo-tang containing necessary information for the day.

Kicking off the activities was a Grad 2013 photo in which the members of the Grade 11 class had to organize themselves into the numbers 2-0-1-3 without talking. A brave Cherrie K (member of the class of 2012) was then hoisted onto a high swing to capture this Kodak moment on film.

Students then split up into their groups, which had been created in order to mix students from different houses, and went on to the main part of the day: activity stations. Given preliminary instructions from members of the graduating class, these flocks were then left to their own devices to complete the tasks which had been assigned.

Many missions were rigorous activities with the common purposes of team building, cooperation, trust and leadership. Whether it was guiding a partner, blindfolded, through the forest, or deciphering the most effective method to get every member of the team through a spider web effectively, each activity provided an opportunity for the students to come together, share ideas and problem-solving techniques, and assert themselves as leaders.

Grade 12 volunteers were familiar with the activities as they had experienced them last year. Speaking as two of those volunteers, it was both entertaining and nostalgic to watch these Grade 11s work together and bond as a grad class in preparing for what is to be a very exciting 2012-2013 year.

As this year comes to a close and the Class of 2012 moves on from their high school lives, it is up to the Class of 2013 to keep Brentwood traditions strong, to provide a positive example for the younger years, and to continue to appreciate, and further better, Brentwood. After seeing these individuals’ work, compete and problem solve together, there is no doubt in our minds that their final year at Brentwood will be great.

But don’t get ahead of yourselves, Class of 2013, you’ve still got some big shoes to fill.

Emily R & Taryn O

Where Students Choose To Be