Prefect Perspective

As the end of the school year, and my time at Albert College, came to an end, I started thinking about what message I wanted to pass on as a prefect. My fellow prefects gave their perspectives on perseverance, setting goals, mindset changes and many other important lessons, but what did I want to tell the younger students? What would I tell my younger self? What do I want my impact to be?

It is exactly that, to make an impact, take the risks, take chances and rise and fall with the opportunities you are given. That is the message I wanted to share.

I remember my first day running morning announcements in Chapel, as Community Prefect. I was terrified, my hands shaking, and ending all my statements as if they were a question - “please... rise?” I made multiple mistakes in the first couple of months, but I knew mistakes did not mean I couldn’t do it. There were also moments I doubted myself, but that also didn’t stop me. I allowed myself to learn from my mistakes.

Failing doesn't mean you can't do it, or you aren't good enough to do it. It means you are almost there. Every time you fail, you are one step closer to succeeding. Making mistakes is not something to be scared of or held back by. Allow yourself to make mistakes. If you never fail, you miss the opportunity to learn and grow.

By the end of the year, standing at the front of the Chapel and guiding our morning announcements became easier, my hands stopped shaking, and I spoke with more confidence – “please rise!”

To make an impact, you first have to start something. Making an impact comes from trying your hardest in everything you do, whether it’s in the sports you try out for or achieving your academic goals. Albert has given us so many opportunities, but it is what you do with those opportunities that matters. Take these opportunities while they're offered.

High school is only four years long. One second, you're in Grade 9 trying to learn your new schedule, then you blink, and suddenly graduation is just weeks away. Don't let your high school years slip away, when you graduate and look back at all you have done and accomplished, think of all the things you have been able to do. Take a chance, and if you fail, get back up. it is better to look back at what you tried to do, then to look back at nothing at all.

As Wayne Gretzky once said, “you miss 100% of the shots you don't take.”

-  Sophie, 2024-25 Community Prefect