Q & A with Head Girl Saskia

What is your favourite memory of York House School?
My favourite memory at York House is probably all the times I spent in the bus on the way to field hockey games. All the girls would be so excited for the upcoming match that the bus would just be filled with singing and laughing the whole way there.

Why did you want to be Head Girl?
I wanted to be Head Girl because I knew there were things in the school I wanted to change which would lead to a better, more open community. As well, I felt from a personal standpoint the position would help me grow as a leader and expand my public speaking abilities.

Blazer Exchange Assembly

What did you learn from being Head Girl?
I learnt a lot! One of the biggest learning experiences was simply about mediation. With twelve extremely passionate and intelligent girls in our exec it was not a surprise that we often had differing ideas. Understanding when to speak up but also when to listen to what others have to say and supporting them was a big skill everyone on the exec was able to adopt.

What are some of the accomplishments of the Student Exec this year that you are most proud of?
We were able to implement another week of spirit activities in the school year which was really beneficial in achieving our goal of a more connected, vibrant community. We had far more random activities that included the entire senior school during recesses and lunches, which led to a high student involvement. As well, we had amazing videos! Which I believe the entire school enjoyed.

Student Executive 2017-18

What words of advice do you have for the incoming Head Girl?
Good luck 🙂 This is a big responsibility that is not always a breeze, but this position gives you the opportunity to make a real change. Always remember that YOU were the one voted in, which means you should trust your decisions and instincts. Listen to others for advice and ideas, but ultimately you are the Head Girl and as long as you have the right intentions you can’t go wrong.

As your time at York House comes to an end, what are you looking forward to the most?
I am so excited to venture off into the unknown. York House has always been a source of stability for me, but now my whole future is up in the air. It is a very strange and unusual feeling, but one of excitement and chance.

What are your plans for the fall?
I will be going to the University of Edinburgh to study Anthropology and Political Science.

Read the Q&A with Vice-Head Annabelle

Q&A with Vice-Head Girl Annabelle

Annabelle with incoming Vice-Head, Ariel, at the Blazer Exchange assembly.

What is your favourite memory of York House School?
My apologies, but I honestly cannot think of one memory at York House that completely encompasses my experience here! York House has been my life for 13 years it’s far too difficult to choose just one.

Why did you want to be Vice-Head Girl?
I have always enjoyed student leadership and I knew that being on an exec would be a great opportunity for me to grow and flourish in this passion. Vice Head was an appealing role to me as it is still a central leadership role in which you are tasked with representing the people, but at the same time so much of the work is done behind the scenes. Anyone who knows me could agree when I say that I thrive in high-pressure environments, particularly when it comes to event planning and organization, so Vice Head seemed right up my alley.

Annabelle and Student Executive welcoming students back to school, September 2018.

What did you learn from being Vice-Head Girl?
I learned so much more than I ever would have imagined. Vice Head came to teach me things about myself, the people around me and leadership in general. I came to learn the importance of listening versus speaking in a leadership position and the importance of collaboration. With a head role came immense pressure from a multitude of directions and I eventually discovered personal ways to manage this stress and persevere.

What are some of the accomplishments of the Student Exec this year that you are most proud of?
I am very proud of the joy and laughter that we brought into the school when our group would frequent the stage. While obviously I can highlight the more long-term significant things the exec accomplished this year, I believe it to be just as important to reflect on the smaller moments where we were able to make people laugh or tear them away from their studies to do something silly. At a school as high-achieving as York House, often we get lost in our textbooks, allowing the strive for academic excellence to overpower our experience at the school, therefore it is imperative that we as leaders are able to bring the fun and spirit into the school and make it a comfortable environment.

Student Executive 2017-18

What words of advice do you have for the incoming Vice-Head Girl, Ariel?
Ariel, know that as Vice Head at times you will feel like there are 1000 things to do all the time. Remember to not let your to-do list intimidate you even if it is full of extra-curriculars, homework and exec work. Just take everything one step at a time and try your very best; but if your efforts do not have the results you would have hoped for it’s okay! You will learn more from the perhaps failed attempts and you will ultimately be a better leader if you do not fear failure.

As your time at York House comes to an end, what are you looking forward to the most?
Currently, I am very much looking forward to the Grad Banquet. It should be a beautiful night; everyone will look amazing, I will be with my best friends and I will bid york house and its characters farewell for the final time. A bittersweet moment indeed, but I truly think there is something beautiful about good byes, especially one as significant as this.

What are your plans for the fall?
In the fall I will be heading to Kingston, Ontario to attend Queen’s University. There I will be majoring in Political Sciences, but I assure you my schedule should be replete with history courses as well.

Read the Q&A with Head Girl Saskia