How the Southridge Pride logo came to be, and why it belongs to each of us.
As a student of Southridge, I want to be supported and accepted by my school community, but more than that, I want to be that supporter for the younger students who need it more than I do. And I know that the only thing stopping me from making that a reality is me.
As the leader of the SOGI (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity) Club, I felt that not only could I take action and actually do something to make a large change in my community, but help my younger peers who may need a sign of support from the school.
In December of 2021, my teacher sponsor and Senior School math teacher, Ms. Thompson, came to me with the information that many other schools had Pride-themed versions of their school logos that they could show off. I felt like this was a practical feat for Southridge, so I set about trying to put it in motion. By mid-January of 2022, I was proposing the idea to several admin and teachers, including Mr. Stephens himself.
The very next day, I first met with Ms. Labbé, the school's Director of Communications and Marketing – and my new partner in crime. She helped me through the whole process: analyzing data, forming questionnaires, making graphic design decisions, and so much more. Together, we presented our various versions of the Southridge Pride Crest Logo to both the Senior School and Junior School until the community decided through one final vote.
This whole process could have been much simpler: hire an artist to make an alternate logo that fits the bill and use that for special occasions. But that didn’t feel right to me. The point of having a Pride-themed logo is to make something personal and representative of the Southridge community, so of course, the whole community had to be given the chance to give their input. Southridge isn’t made up of just one person with one identity and one type of struggle. It’s incredibly diverse, and what applies to me may not apply to my peers and vice versa. Being aware of this fact and playing to it were the keys to not only satisfaction, but representation and the feeling that this crest belongs to every single person that makes up Southridge.
My intention with this project wasn’t to leave a legacy. I wanted to make my community a more welcoming place. However, if there is to be any takeaway from this project, it should be that no one should ever underestimate how much power they hold no matter who they are. If you want to see change, nothing is stopping you from making it yourself.
Contributed by Lauren H, Grade 12 Student
Originally published in Spirit Magazine - Fall 2022