The previous post referenced the freedom that comes with the safety that we cultivate at Proctor. I am speaking of the freedom to be oneself without fear of getting beaten up in a bathroom, the ability of a student to be real because of an environment of acceptance, and the broad set of alternative opportunities to exercise leadership that one might never dream of pursuing in a less tolerant environment. Leadership at Proctor is open-ended, because it goes from formally elected bodies to an extensive set of volunteer opportunities.
For three years, Sunday afternoon ultimate Frisbee contests have been initiated by Elliot (in green.)
Too often, I suspect, schools limit leadership to student councils, and other formal bodies that actually are stripped of meaningful avenues for action. Better to enable leadership to manifest itself through dozens of causes and activities: teams, environmental action, cultural diversity (we call it Triple I,) student activities, Proctor Academy Fire Department, Big Brother/Sister mentoring, theater, dorm leadership, etc. Members of the Woods Team are planting spinach in the organic garden anticipating an early spring crop.
Sacrificing free blocks to provide campus tours to visiting families is both a service to the community and a great exercise of leadership. When a young student sees a senior giving back to Proctor, a lesson is learned we could not teach otherwise.
A foundation needs to be laid for a drying platform for milled lumber at the Forestry Shed.
Aleks cleans the hoof of one lamb that is fortunate not to be "heading to market."
At the ski hill, students are mulching a newly-seeded trail that was reconstructed this summer.
Rock climbers explore the exterior of the stone chapel.
Marcus (last seen giving a campus tour) gives us a little Zoolander.
"Spotters" ham it up in a shameless, successful attempt to be immortalized on the Web.
Leadership = four-year seniors!
