leadership
LEADING WITH CAMARADERIE AND ZEAL A reflection from our School Co‑Captains In thinking back to any of our previous years at Ruyton, it is impossible not to remember the motivation, dedication and energy brought by the two Co-Captains leading the school. From being Year 7 girls in our first year of Senior School to Year 11 students preparing to take on leadership roles ourselves, the passion and hard work of the entire leadership team was evident in everything they did. Being a smaller school community, the most prominent feeling we can recall throughout these past years is the overwhelming sense of community established and maintained by past School Co-Captains. One of the most valuable lessons we learned last year was that you truly never stop growing and adapting both individually and as a leader, and this has continued to prove true as we’ve stepped into our positions this year. The two of us are very conscious of wanting to preserve the incredible legacy left by Co-Captains before us while also bringing parts of our own inspiration and sense of self to the role. We don’t want to lose that feeling of connection and togetherness that has become such a pivotal part of our years at Ruyton. If the past 12 months have shown us anything, it’s that this culture is not created by mere physical proximity on School grounds, but rather a deeply rooted unity and support amongst students, staff and parents alike. These values were at the forefront of our minds when we nailed our colours to the mast at the Year 12 Leadership Assembly in early February, pledging to lead both the Year 12 girls and the whole school as so many Co‑Captains have before us. This year, the Class of 2021 has chosen to lead with camaraderie and zeal. Whilst there were many words which described our year level’s 4
experiences through 2020 and our hopes for this year, ultimately, we decided on camaraderie as it reflects the unity and togetherness of our whole cohort. At the first of our Year 11 Leadership days last year, we discussed the importance of forming connections with others and allowing yourself to open up. To reflect these ideas, we chose camaraderie to represent the mutual trust and friendship across the Class of 2021 and our loyalty in the face of hardship. For example, last year when we were all separated from each other, we never lost that feeling of connection and it helped us move past the difficult times. To us this is a perfect example of the unwavering togetherness camaraderie encapsulates, which we hope will continue in 2021, despite whatever challenges are thrown our way. To complement camaraderie we selected the word zeal, a great energy or enthusiasm in both life and in pursuit of one’s goals. Our zeal represents our enthusiasm and fearlessness that motivates us and guides us. It also encourages others to possess this same energy and in this way we motivate those we lead too. With great zeal and camaraderie we can help others rise above challenges and create what will be an unforgettable year. In addition to these two words, we have chosen the colour sage to reflect our leadership goals. For us, the green of sage represents growth, new beginnings, and new opportunities, and we hope to use the wisdom we gained after last year to help us get through any other difficult experiences and challenges we may face. We are both so excited for this year ahead and we hope everyone has a safe and connected year, no matter the hardships that may arise. Annie Timm and Zoe Boussioutas School Co-Captains
the ruyton reporter
