After a year as Head Prefects, SMUS lifers Chelsea Lee and Will Cuddihy are preparing to pass the baton to next year's leaders, Ailo Streitel and Parker Sheehan. These two Grade 12 students, along with the rest of the Prefect Council, Heads of Councils and Heads of Houses, have played an important role in shaping our school community this year and for years to come.
Here are some of their reflections on the past school year:
1. What’s one challenge you overcame this year and what did you learn from the experience?
Chelsea: One big challenge for me as Head Prefect that persisted throughout the entire year was the sheer number of initiatives, ideas, and scheduled commitments Will and I, along with the help of the Prefect Council, had to organize and run. Stepping into the role at the beginning of the year, I had somewhat of an idea about how busy everything was going to be, but it was completely different than how I had imagined. Early on, we learned how important every event was and the high standards expected of us. With this always in the backs of our minds, Will and I were able to get everything done, but that was only through the time management and organizational skills we improved upon along the way. I learned how vital these two skills are in conjunction with one another in attempting to juggle many (rewarding) events in an already busy graduating year.
Will: My biggest challenge as Head Prefect was, without a doubt, the Christmas Assembly. Having attended every single one since Kindergarten, it was a joy and an honour to organize it for the first time. It was also terrifying to have to live up to the standard of previous years - the bar was high. Chelsea and I both wanted to make the assembly as special for this year's Kindergarteners as it was for us 13 years ago, but we also wanted to create a special moment for our graduating class. Given that it fell at the height of university application season, just as my difficult classes were starting up again, it was tough to get around to getting the assembly done, especially given that we had a few extra pieces we wanted to add to it. Thanks to the incredible work of the Prefect Council, Chelsea and I were able to make our last Christmas Assembly a memorable one (for us, at least).
2. What were some of the highlights for your school year as a Head Prefect?
Chelsea: There were so many rewarding and amazing experiences Will and I were given the opportunity to have this year, but I’d have to say my biggest highlight was the Christmas Assembly. Being a lifer and having attended our festive school-wide gathering 13 years in a row, it was so incredibly special to be at the front, leading the school in song and festive cheer, and delivering a memorable and fun program for all ages. Also, the Junior school visits were so lovely, as I work as a camp leader at SMUS Camps and got lots of big hugs from the little ones at the Junior School who knew me from camps. The Middle school visits were also so memorable, along with the Halloween Assembly with the high school. Monday morning assemblies with the whole high school and all of the grad activities (like Senior Sunrise and Sunset, Gotcha, etc.) have also been so very special. There have been so many wonderful moments this year, and I am so grateful to have shared them with the rest of my grade.
Will: One highlight was the music trip to Argentina - it was an incredible chance to see some of the country and stay with two awesome families. I can't thank Mr. Farish, Ms. Guillen, Mr. Kim, and Ms. Banman enough for making the trip as special as it was. As I mentioned earlier, the Christmas assembly was so much fun (I got to wear the Santa costume), and the Halloween assembly was entertaining as well. The Junior School visits were so cute, particularly when all the kids from Chelsea's summer camps would come up to give her big hugs, and getting to see my former summer camp kids at the Middle School was also a highlight. The past month or so leading up to Grad has been so special, with events like Senior Sunset, skating with my Physics class, and Gotcha, to name a few. There have been so many incredible moments this year, and I have been beyond lucky to share them with the rest of the graduating class.
3. What do you know now that you wish you knew at the start of your senior year as a Head Prefect?
Chelsea: Your grade 12 year is as busy, and also as rewarding, as you make it. When Will and I started out at the beginning of the year, I thought that we wouldn’t be overloaded with things to do, as we had our set list of events to run. That being said, Will and I also came into the year with heads full of new ideas that we wanted to implement, some from past Head Prefects and many of our own. I wish that I knew how busy I would eventually be so that I could’ve better prepared, perhaps in the summer, with schedules and organization. However, I’m now able to look back at the year with pride and know that we, with the invaluable and vital help of the Prefect Council, fit as much into the eight months we had as was physically possible.
Will: This year, I learned why there are two Head Prefects. Grade 12 was jam-packed for both Chelsea and me, and we had some incredibly busy weeks where one of us couldn't quite find the time to make the assembly slides or draw up the agenda for the Prefect meeting. Fortunately, we divided our duties pretty well, I would say, and when one of us was struggling, the other could step in easily. I also learned how important it is to ask the Prefects for advice and input on the direction of the Prefect Council. Many of the initiatives that our Council participated in this year were the Prefects' ideas, and their hard work this year made everything else possible.
4. Next year, two lifers take over for two lifers as Head Prefect. What about your Lifer experience do you think helped you in your role?
Chelsea: In my opinion, being a lifer has made a massive difference in our role because it has enabled us to have much more communication with the other two campuses. It has been so amazing to go to the Junior and Middle schools and see how much everything has changed, as well as reminisce over things that have stayed the same. Being able to tell younger students that we were them not that long ago is such a full-circle moment that fills my heart each time. Moreover, being a lifer has helped Will and me fully and wholly understand the SMUS experience, which has aided us in widening our capacity to help others, as we can empathize with issues brought up and think of solutions that benefit everyone involved. That being said, it’s not necessary for Head Prefects to be lifers, but it helps quite a bit. Having grown up at SMUS, being a Head Prefect (a position that I’ve looked up to for thirteen years!) has been even more special due to being a lifer.
Will: Being a Lifer has made connection with the other campuses so much easier. It's particularly lovely to be able to go to the Junior School and tell the younger students that I used to be exactly where they are now! Even though the Junior and Middle schools have changed quite significantly since I attended them, my greatest privilege as Head Prefect is to be able to visit them, both a school leader and as a former student. Being a Lifer has also helped me in my "professional" role as a camp leader; some of the kids in my camps are SMUS students, and it's hilarious to hear their stories from the halls I used to walk. That being said, I don't think it's imperative that Head Prefects be Lifers, but it is crucial to spend time building relationships with the non-Senior campuses.
After Grade 12, Will is set to participate in the Senate Page program while studying computer engineering at the University of Ottawa. Chelsea is off to the University of Victoria to study biochemistry.
Chelsea Lee
