Introducing Kai Scott ’17 – a Prefect who has an appreciation for hard work and perseverance. Read how he has found success during his time at Ridley.

Why did you choose Ridley?

As a local student, I felt like Ridley provided a unique learning experience, that made it stand out from other high schools in the area at the time. My family and I also felt that Ridley provided a much more well-rounded and multi-faceted schooling than I could have gotten at another place. I think this level of involvement really drew us in to the school.

Did you feel prepared coming to Ridley?

Definitely not! As somebody who had changed schools only once before and had never really been in such a diverse community like Ridley’s, I certainly felt a bit overwhelmed with the whole experience right at the beginning. As soon as I realized how understanding and ready to help the students and teachers around me were, I settled in pretty quickly. I think it was also important for me to realize that I was far from the only kid going through this process!

Who is your favourite faculty member and why?

My favourite teacher would have to be Dr. Foster. She’s always ready to laugh and she definitely keeps TOK [Theory of Knowledge] and French classes entertaining and engaging. There’s never a dull class with Dr. Foster!

What has been your greatest challenge thus far at Ridley?

I’d have to say that my toughest challenge throughout my time at Ridley has been balancing my sports and school schedules. A major part of the Ridley experience is just how busy you are kept from eight in the morning, through to the time your head hits the pillow each night…Despite this, I persevered and worked through the difficulties.

What has been your greatest accomplishment thus far at Ridley?

The greatest accomplishment I’ve had with Ridley was winning the bronze medal this year at the CSSRA championships in the Junior 72kg Coxed Four category. While I rowed in a faster boat the year before, I felt as though the bronze medal that I won this past year came from a group that, throughout the year, had struggled and persevered through some trying experiences. The amount of grit and will that went into that boat made our medals carry a sense of accomplishment and pride that only comes from success following hard work.

What has been your favourite Ridley experience?

I’d have to say being involved in Snake Dance was one of my Ridley experiences that stands out. There is a sense of togetherness and excitement that is hard to replicate with any other activity during the year. The raw energy that Snake Dance brings out of people is powerful. It is one of my favourite Ridley traditions to take part in.

What is your favourite part of Ridley life?

Even though I’m a day boy, house life is part of the Ridley life that I like to be a part of. Houses become like big families, and this makes it really fun to spend time in the evenings talking and hanging out with your housemates. The comfortability that the house setting gives students makes it easy for us to relax and be a bit more open and I think that this makes it a really important part of Ridley existence.

What part of being a Prefect are you most excited for?

I’m super excited for the chance be a part of this year’s Prefect team. I think that I’m most excited to, as a Prefect, be able to help out the students around me and be able to hopefully have a positive impact on my peers. As a Prefect I want to be as approachable as possible and give other students an outlet to talk to.

How has Ridley prepared you for the future?

Ridley has put me in a position to be able to deal with the stresses of the real world. Ridley has given us, as students, the ability to balance and manage our lives in a way that would have taken years of painful university cram sessions and all-nighters otherwise. Life is busy and Ridley has given us an opportunity to learn how to deal with it properly. On top of this, Ridley has given us a view into the increasingly globalized world of today. I’ve been able to meet people from places throughout the world, and through this, I’ve learned to widen my horizons and gain a new understanding of the world.

What are your plans after graduation?

After graduation, I plan on taking a gap year to travel and get involved in volunteer projects abroad. I think that there is a lot that can be learned about the world around us and to truly understand it I believe that we need to get outside of the classroom and into the multitude of cultures around the world.

What advice would you give prospective students about Ridley?

Ridley, at first, can seem a bit daunting and scary, but try to move past that initial fear and you’ll see Ridley for the welcoming, diverse and open community that it is!