Southridge School

Why did you want to become a School Captain?

I'm not going to lie— it was not the easiest decision.

I joined Southridge in the middle of COVID in grade 8 as a 12 year old kid from Saskatchewan. I remember feeling scared that I wouldn't make friends or people might think I was weird (which…I was). So, to say that I had any leadership role on my radar, let alone School Captain, would be blasphemous!

I’ve always viewed the role of School Captain as one of the most important and influential leadership positions as you are given the responsibility of representing the school. So logically, I thought that the most perfect, most confident and most accomplished people should have this role, rather than someone who was trying to still navigate the high school experience. 

However, I ultimately decided that I wanted to become a School Captain not because I believed that I had all the answers or I thought I was the most influential or accomplished candidate. It was quite the contrary. I thought that I would be able to bring a relatable spin to the role as I believed many others were just like me— trying to figure it all out.

I wanted to show that leadership doesn’t look the same for everyone and that you don’t have to be perfect to be an effective leader. Sometimes, it’s more about showing up with a genuine smile, an open mind, a good attitude, and a willingness to occasionally trip over your own feet and laugh about it. I’m a believer that authenticity is key, and that being true to yourself—even if that means making a few mistakes along the way can be incredibly inspiring.

What are you hoping to accomplish in this role? 

I hope to model for my peers that leadership doesn’t have to be daunting. It’s okay to approach it with a sense of curiosity and enthusiasm, rather than pressure or fear. By embracing this mindset, I believe we can all contribute to making Southridge an even better place.

What do you see as the strengths of Southridge?

I've got to say, one of the biggest strengths of Southridge is its culture. It’s a place where support, trust, and genuine care for one another are deeply embedded in everything we do. Whether it is the students, parents or teachers, there is the sense that everyone is rooting for you and working toward a common goal.

What would you like to change at Southridge?

On the first day of school this year, I remember a teacher telling my class about a conversation they had with a grade 9 student.

The teacher asked the student “what did you do this summer?” to which the student responded, “I spent it studying for grade 9 science.”

Hearing this, my heart immediately dropped. The idea that a young student spent their entire summer stressing over one subject instead of enjoying a break, making memories, and exploring their interests struck a chord with me.

This response prompted me to reflect on something I’d like to see extinguished at Southridge: the rising pressure that so many of us feel to excel at all costs, sometimes at the expense of our well-being. While academic excellence is something we all strive for, I believe it’s important that we not only focus on studying hard but also prioritize taking care of ourselves and enjoying life outside of schoolwork.

I want to encourage an environment where it’s okay to breathe, to take a second to smell the roses and make memories. I want the school to be a place where learning is exciting and not something that brings anxiety. Where students feel supported, not just to achieve top grades, but to grow as well-rounded individuals. After all, Southridge is about so much more than just textbooks and exams—it’s about shaping the kind of people we want to become, both academically and personally.

What’s been the highlight of your time here at Southridge so far?

Honestly, there have been too many highlights to count! From school trips to sports teams, clubs, and all the different communities I’ve had the pleasure of being a part of, I’ve had the chance to experience so much. But if I had to narrow it down, despite how cliche it sounds, I’d say the true highlight has been connecting with the people here. Through these opportunities—whether it’s been on a team, in a classroom, or at an event—I’ve gained what feels like another family. I’ve found big brothers and sisters who’ve guided me, cousins to laugh with, mentors who’ve offered advice, and little siblings who I hope I’ve helped along the way. So, without a doubt, my highlight has been the people who make Southridge feel like home. The friendships, support, and sense of belonging I’ve found here have made my time unforgettable. It’s these connections that will make me shed a tear as I depart from those big wooden doors for the last time.

What do you want your peers to know about you coming into this role?

I truly care about you and how you're doing!

I want to get to know you. Feel free to tell me what's going on, what you enjoy or what you are not a fan of. I want you to enjoy your time here at Southridge, and I’m here to make that happen. I’m going to be there to laugh with you and cry with you when you need it or simply lend an ear. I’m committed to being a supportive presence, ready to share in both the highs and lows. Your experiences matter to me, and I want to be a part of your journey through this school year.

Why did you want to become a School Captain?

The story began back in Grade 4 when I had just moved to my brand-new international school
from my old public, local Cantonese school. At my former school, I was  somewhat of an adored celebrity: I held several positions, had wonderful relationships with teachers, and breezed
through school with ease. However, at my new school, all of that disappeared, and I had to reestablish myself. Luckily, it was just in time for the elementary school captain election, and without hesitation, I threw my name in the hat. Getting onto the ballot was easy enough, but I had to prepare a speech for the entire school.

I thought my English was pretty extraordinary after winning multiple English-related awards at my old school, but I was so wrong. To this day, I still believe I went on stage and mumbled for five minutes straight, as confirmed by the video my mom recorded. The funny part is that when I didn’t get the position, I was shocked. My delusional self even cried in front of the whole class, but one thing was clear: that night, I promised myself that in Grade 12, I would win. 

After eight grades and four schools later, I finally arrived at Southridge. And although it might seem like all this time I’ve been plotting my revenge story, in truth, I simply love to lead and stand up for those around me. These traits were ones I developed as a child, learning the ways of life, but after coming to Southridge, I realized it was a wonderful community to exercise my skills.
Here, everyone has a voice and is part of a community that values each individual. As I sat in Grade Eight, listening to the school captains, Ian and Suhaana, speak, I felt that I was part of their vision. At Southridge, no one is more important than another. Even though I hold a position, my opinions and ideas are not placed above anyone else’s. This creates a powerful environment
for leadership, and that’s why I wanted to become a School Captain at Southridge.

What are you hoping to accomplish in this role?

After touring and speaking with several representatives from different schools at the CAIS conference, I realized that many schools with years of operation have established traditions and cultures that resonate with their communities. While this is not a major issue, Southridge lacks a strong sense of culture and tradition rooted in its history. I believe the most significant cultural symbol at our school is the painting of Mr. Alan Brown in the Great Hall. Additionally, the pandemic has played a significant role in disrupting some of our traditions. Therefore, I believe it is time for Southridge to reestablish itself and its culture.

A good starting point could be organizing annual events that celebrate or tie a theme to our school’s past—something unique to Southridge. A great example of such an event is Hoops for Heart, which originated at our school and is a tradition that takes place yearly. To enhance events like Hoops for Heart, we could incorporate elements that celebrate the history of the game or connect to our past. This could help strengthen our culture and establish lasting traditions.

 

One of Southridge's greatest strengths, compared to both public and private schools, is how small and tight-knit our school community is. Although our student body is smaller than that of other schools, this benefits us in many ways. For example, I would argue that most of our students know each other by name, even across different grades. In fact, when I tell students from other schools that I talk to grade eights, they’re often confused. I frequently get asked how I even have the opportunity to establish such connections. This fun fact always amazes
students from larger public schools, especially those in the States. At first glance, a small school might not seem special. However, this very quality has helped us become a much closer community. In much larger schools, a common theme is separation, especially when you walk through the cafeteria—people are often divided by grade, gender, culture, and more. But here at Southridge, we have created a community that breaks down those barriers.

 

 

When an issue is discovered, we sometimes focus on tackling the problem directly, rather than finding its root cause. I believe a major issue at Southridge, affecting various operations such as clubs, events, and more, is organization. From what I can gather, Southridge is a place where many things happen, but collaboration between them is lacking. This often leads to situations where events clash. For example, based on my experience joining multiple clubs, many with similar content often overlap in timing. Even more concerning is when people are misinformed about certain events, leading to a lack of proper preparation. Southridge has a lot going on, and it all happens within a small space. Therefore, we need to ensure that all operations are well-organized so everything runs smoothly. However, you can't just tell people to be organized and expect everything to work out. Instead, we need to inspire people to care: to care about their goals, to care for others affected by their actions, and to care
about the impact they can make. If we can foster a sense of care within our community, it will lead to better organization, even when it comes to the simplest things.o have fun in the school while being respectful to our Southridge traditions.

 

 

When I came to Southridge, I had just started playing basketball. I wasn’t very good at it; in fact, I was horrible at every aspect when it came to athletics. But after adopting basketball as my sport, I decided to stick with it and try out for the junior basketball team. As a new student and newer basketball player, I didn’t get much recognition on the basketball teams, I still remember wearing my Steph Curry shirt to the first scrimmage of the year, and since no one knew my
name, my nickname for the year became "Curry."

I tried out for the junior basketball team in grade nine, and unsurprisingly, I didn’t make the team. However, being the stubborn kid I was, I was still shocked that I didn’t make it. I spent an entire year on the sidelines, watching the action. And I won’t lie—I was jealous of the players on the court. I was upset with myself and my lack of ability to play the sport. That summer, I used all the time I had to grind and improve my game.

Two years later, I received the news that I had made the senior team. Over the past two years, I had practiced, played, and learned as much as I could with the time I had. Although I am nowhere near being the best player, I have undeniably improved. Without a doubt, earning a spot on the senior team was a reward for my hard work, and I was elated. From the moment I was cut from the junior team to now making the senior team—that was my highlight.

 

 

My biggest fear in grade eight wasn’t my classes, my new environment, or my teachers. Instead, I was petrified of the grade 12s. In fact, I think I went through the entire year without speaking to any seniors. What I’m trying to say is, there’s absolutely no reason for any of you younger students to be afraid to approach me. I will listen to anything you have to say and give you the best feedback I can. At the end of the day, I am no more special than you are; my position
doesn’t change my status as a student at Southridge. So, I truly hope that none of you, especially the younger students, will be afraid to come to me with your concerns, problems, or suggestions. I am here to help you.