Tag Archives: Class of 2017

Academics, Admissions, Just for fun!, Ridley News, Tips for New Ridley College Students, Upper School

Get to Know Your Prefects: Graham D. ‘17

September 14, 2016 1517347

Introducing Graham Devitt ’17 – a Prefect who has grown during his Ridley career – from Lower School, through to Upper School. Read how he has been driven to succeed during his time at Ridley and where he hopes his future will lead him.

Why did you choose Ridley?

I chose Ridley because it is one of the best schools in the area. I am a day student and choosing to go to Ridley was an easy decision, as it is both academically and athletically renowned. Ridley presents unique opportunities that cannot be found anywhere else and I knew it would be a great fit for me!

Did you feel prepared coming to Ridley?

Yes, I felt prepared coming to Ridley. I came in Lower School and integrating into the culture was much easier there. I was a bit nervous going to a new school – as Ridley’s reputation preceded itself – but as soon as I arrived I was accepted and became immersed in Ridley life.

Who is your favourite faculty member and why?

My favourite faculty member is Mrs. Roud. She taught me Grade 10 History and is also my housemaster. She has helped me evolve academically, in addition to encouraging me to push my limits and become a better person. She has helped me with everything from school work to personal projects and has always been a very caring and dependable person. I look forward to working with her to make Dean’s House and the rest of Ridley as enjoyable for everyone else as it has been for me!

What has been your greatest challenge thus far at Ridley?

I think the greatest challenge has been making the most of all the opportunities Ridley presents. On top of academics, athletics and extra-curriculars, Ridley provides many other opportunities to advance and develop one’s education. Being able to – on top of everything else – go on exchanges, participate in service trips, and apply for awards is definitely a challenge, but one that can be extremely rewarding.

What has been your greatest accomplishment thus far at Ridley?

My greatest accomplishment would be winning the Beaverbrook Vimy Prize to travel to Europe during two weeks in the summer and visit various WWI and WWII memorials and battle sites. Although it took a substantial amount of work, the payoff is extraordinary and I am proud to have won this prestigious award.

What has been your favorite Ridley experience?

My favourite Ridley experience is going to camp at the beginning of every year. Getting to know all the new boys and doing everything from wake boarding to zip lining is both a fun and involved adventure!

What is your favourite part of Ridley life?

My favourite part of Ridley life is being a part of a house. Being a part of Dean’s House and playing the other houses in sports, participating in house events and BBQs is truly a unique experience to Ridley and one that I thoroughly enjoy!

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

I am looking forward to being a role model to all younger students and especially the new students this next year. Showing students how to make the most of Ridley life, do well in school, and more importantly, enjoy all the other aspects of Ridley – from sports, to dances, to trips – is something I’m looking forward to. The opportunity to lead others and help them make the most of there time here will be very rewarding.

How has Ridley prepared you for the future?

As you progress through Ridley, you gain more independence. This parallels life in university and beyond. In addition, Ridley life is very different than other schools. From simple things like waking up for class on your own, to tasks like touring prospective students, Ridley reinforces qualities and values that many kids don’t learn until much later in life.

What are your plans after graduation?

I plan to go on to university to get a bachelors and most likely a master’s degree. I haven’t quite chosen what my degree will be yet but it will be something within the social sciences for sure. After that my only ambition is to move to a big city and start working. Wherever that takes me, we’ll have to see.

What advice would you give prospective students about Ridley?

Make the most of Ridley. However you ended up here, you are extremely privileged. Understand this and take all the opportunities you can, because soon enough you will be finished Ridley and those opportunities won’t be there. If you balance your academics and also have fun, Ridley will be one of the best experiences you will have in your life.

Just for fun!, Ridley News, Tips for New Ridley College Students, Upper School

Get to Know Your Prefects – Kai S. ‘17

August 31, 2016 1517347

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!

Ridley News, Tips for New Ridley College Students, Upper School

Get to Know Your Prefects: Michael S. ’17

August 24, 2016 1517347

Introducing Michael Steier ’17 – a Prefect who is looking to have a Screen Shot 2016-08-24 at 1.19.27 PM positive impact on the school and the student body in his final year at Ridley.

Why did you choose Ridley?

I came to Ridley in Grade 5 because my brother had come three years earlier. My brother has been a big influence on my life and I followed him to Ridley. I had seen him mature in the three years since coming to Ridley and I wanted to follow in his footsteps.

Did you feel prepared coming to Ridley?

Before coming to Ridley I went to a Montessori school, so when making the transition, I felt I was better prepared than most kids. However, the Ridley lifestyle is so unique that it took a bit of adjusting.

Who is your favourite faculty member and why?

My favourite faculty member is Mr. Clarke. I never had him as a teacher, but he was my Grade 9 golf coach and that’s where I got to see the real Mr. Clarke. He was the Head of Upper School, so he always seemed intimidating, but on the course, we would talk about sports and anything but school. We were able to talk to him like he was a teenager, like us, which is why he is a favourite of mine. I think it’s really important that the faculty are able to connect with their students outside of the classroom and on a personal level.

What has been your greatest challenge thus far at Ridley?

My greatest challenge at Ridley has been adapting to the Ridley schedule. Learning how to balance all my different commitments and learning to prioritize things can be difficult… It took a while getting used to the fact that you won’t be getting home until 6:00p.m., or later, when your friends at other high schools are coming home at 3:00p.m. Even though it was difficult getting used to, it did help me manage my time much more efficiently.

What has been your greatest accomplishment thus far at Ridley?

My greatest accomplishment at Ridley has been becoming Prefect; not because I’m one of the leaders in the school, but because of how I have changed over the past year. Grade 10 was a tough year for me and to be seen as a leader in the eyes of the faculty and my peers again was a great relief. I worked really hard to rebuild my relationships… and to be chosen was a great achievement.

What has been your favorite Ridley experience?

My favourite part of my Ridley experience has been how different it is from other high schools. The diversity of the people at this school has exposed me to different cultures, that I wouldn’t have been exposed to otherwise. I now have friends from all over world, that speak all different languages. The other part that I love is the lifestyle. Fellow Prefect, David Xue ‘17 said “Ridley isn’t a school, it’s a lifestyle”. This quote really carries a lot of meaning because when you’re a student a Ridley, you don’t just come to class and then leave. Ridley keeps you involved beyond the classroom, whether it be on a sports team, or in the dorm. Ridley really does keep you involved in every way possible.

What is your favourite part of Ridley life?

My favourite part of Ridley life has been the friends I have met. All of my close friends are people that I met through Ridley. I met them all several years ago and are still very close friends with them today. What Ridley has also allowed me to do is to make friends from around the world. I have friends all over the world that I am now able to visit if I am ever travelling. It has allowed me to expand my network of friends and my exposure to people all around the world.

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

I am really excited for being able to speak for my peers. I have been a student in Upper School for three years and have seen many Prefects. I have also had many ideas and suggestions throughout my years and I now have a good opportunity to voice those opinions. I feel I am qualified to speak for the student body because I have been in their position for the past several years. I know what students want, what they like and what works for them. I feel, now given this position, I am able to make an impact.

How has Ridley prepared you for the future?

The biggest thing that Ridley has given me to prepare me for the future has been my time management skills. I have been managing my busy schedule for the past three years with balancing my athletic, social and academic life. It has also prepared for a college workload and how to write a college research paper. All of these things I can take with me to the next chapter in my life.

What are your plans after graduation?

I plan on going to university somewhere in the United States. Both of my parents went there and my brother is currently in school there, so I would like to follow in my family’s footsteps. I feel Ridley has prepared me for the next step.

What advice would you give prospective students about Ridley?

My advice to prospective students is if you’re considering Ridley as an option, take your time to make the decision. Ridley is a challenging place and if you decide to attend, then you need to be prepared to fully immerse yourself in the Ridley lifestyle. I highly recommend attending because of how much you can learn and how you can develop as a person. Ridley has a lot to offer and the doors it can open are endless.

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