Prefect Perspective

Time flies quickly, and I find it hard to believe that I have already spent two years at Albert College. When I first arrived here, everything seemed unfamiliar, but it has now become a familiar and welcoming place. I feel both honoured and somewhat surprised to be the Academic and Enrolment Prefect this year. This is not only a responsibility, but also shows trust from the school community. But today, I don't want to talk about learning. I’d like to share a more personal experience - about the process of slowly finding myself in a new environment.

When I first arrived at Albert College, everything around me was new to me. New classrooms, new teachers, new classmates, and a completely different learning environment. During that time, I often felt like someone who had not yet found a place to belong. Even simple things like chatting with classmates or expressing my thoughts in front of others made me feel nervous. Standing on stage to give a speech was even more frightening, and I often doubted whether I could truly integrate into the school community.

My academic advisor provided me with a lot of help. Her help was sometimes direct, and sometimes happened in smaller moments. When I was considering running for Prefect, she constantly encouraged me, helped me build confidence, and made me believe that I could take on such a role. Her help was also seen in many small things in daily life - a simple conversation, a caring inquiry. These seemingly ordinary moments slowly made me feel like I was becoming part of the AC community.

I also joined the school's cross-country team this year. At first, I just wanted to try off-road running, but gradually, running became an important part of my life. Running every day has taught me self-discipline and also helped me find a way to relax during tense or somewhat monotonous times of studying.

Every time I run, I have a special feeling as if time has slowed down slightly. This allows me to notice details that I often overlook: a new painting hanging in the hallway, different postures of birds on tree branches in the courtyard, or a beautiful piece of music I accidentally discover. When the pace of life is fast, these small moments are easily overlooked, but they often make the day more fulfilling.

Looking back at the past two years, there have indeed been many challenges and adaptation processes in my life. But between these experiences, I also gradually learned to pay attention to those subtle and quiet changes. Perhaps these beautiful moments have always been there; we just need to slow down a little bit before we can truly see them.

In these final weeks at Albert College, I still strive to move forward. Perhaps there will still be challenges on the road, but I hope to be able to move forward like running, while also paying attention to the beautiful things that happen all around me.

- Darren, Grade 12 student and Academic & Enrolment Prefect