They stood courageously at the podium in Chapel and shared their thoughts on leadership, displaying knowledge beyond their years as they reflected on what it takes to lead a community like Cardigan. And when the service was over and the boys had been dismissed, they circled together outside the chapel and cheered, not for themselves, but for leadership at Cardigan––forgetting that just moments ago they were all competing for the same positions.
Of the 52 students who began the leadership election process in April, seven students earned an opportunity to stand before their peers and the community in Chapel last week and share why they wanted the title of School Leader and Assistant School Leader. Their messages were bold and unique, revealing their personal strengths and what kinds of leaders they want to be.
But despite their individual perspectives, all seven boys kept coming back to a similar theme: community, and more specifically the Cardigan community. They all reflected on the growth they have experienced at Cardigan and how the community has supported them in that growth. They clearly understood that, as Terry Langetieg ’24 said in his speech, “‘We’ is more important than ‘me.’” Admittedly, these boys are competitive in much of what they do, but they also understand that the Cardigan community is better when they all work together.
And they will all have that chance. Two days after the eighth graders spoke, the community returned to the chapel for Cardigan’s Investiture Ceremony, and the leaders for the 2023-24 school year were announced:
School Leader Assistant School Leader Academics Assistant Athletics Assistant Banks Floor Leader Brewster I Floor Leader Brewster II Floor Leader Chapel Leaders Clark-Morgan Floor Leader Dewar Floor Leader Dining Room Head Steward Franklin Floor Leader French I Floor Leader French II Floor Leader |
Funnell Floor Leader Green Key Leader Greenwood Floor Leader Hayward I Floor Leader Hayward II Floor Leader Health Center Assistant Hinman I Floor Leader Hinman II Floor Leader International Relations Leader Kitchen Head McCusker I Floor Leader McCusker II Floor Leader Student Activities Assistant |
Today we celebrate these boys and all they have accomplished so far. At the same time, we know they have much to learn. Some of those lessons will occur because of mistakes made or in moments of weakness. Others will take perseverance and persistence. But because the boys have the support of each other and this community, they’ll get back up and be better leaders the next day. Together, as they were on the night after they presented their speeches, they are ready to give back to the School that has already given them so much and grow into the leaders that Cardigan needs them to be.