Entrusted.
Entrusted.
So… was it what you expected?
This was the first question I asked Harmony ’19 and Liam ’18, this year’s student trustees, when we sat down to chat about their experience on the board this year. The response from both of them was a hard and fast no.
Entrusted.
So… was it what you expected?
This was the first question I asked Harmony ’19 and Liam ’18, this year’s student trustees, when we sat down to chat about their experience on the board this year. The response from both of them was a hard and fast no.
As Liam pointed out, “in the average life of a student, there is nothing that compares to being on the board.” Research and good intentions aside, there’s only so much students can do to prepare themselves for an opportunity such as this one. Both students expected a greater level of intensity at the meetings; they were pleasantly surprised by the camaraderie and collaboration exhibited among their fellow board members.
“What connects us all is that we love CSW,” Harmony shares. “Each one of us truly wants to see our school be the best it can be.”
There seems to be a bit of a misperception out there that the primary role of our student trustees is to push and advocate for specific changes on behalf of the student body, almost like a lawyer in front of a courtroom. And while there are indeed opportunities for this kind of leadership, serving on the board is more about the power of voice, and the importance of involving student perspective in pivotal moments of conversation and discussion that greatly impact the future of the school and this community.
Prior to their first meeting, Jordan Clark ’05, director of student programming for equity and inclusion — and a former student trustee himself — met with Harmony and Liam several times and offered some sage advice. “Rather than focusing on all of the things we wanted to change and push,” Liam shares, “he told us to focus on the ways we could develop ourselves and the ways we think about the school. That really put things in perspective for me.”
Jordan is but one of many school administrators Harmony and Liam have had the opportunity to work with during their tenure. And whether they were collaborating with administrators or fellow board members, Harmony and Liam both express sincere gratitude for the high levels of respect and appreciation consistently shown towards them.
“I’m glad that there isn’t a special portion of the meeting reserved for students to speak or something like that,” says Harmony. “And I love when members ask me questions and follow up with me at dinner. I can tell they really want to connect with me and hear what I have to say.”
Both Harmony and Liam assure me that when it comes to the board, they have always been treated like equals, and that this has been instrumental in their own leadership development. It has pushed them beyond their comfort zones, in doing so building confidence that will stay with them throughout their lives.
We thank Harmony and Liam for their service this year, and wish Liam the best of luck as he prepares to head off to college in the fall. We look forward to continuing work with Harmony — who has been elected for a second term — and give a warm welcome to Orly ’19, who will join us as a trustee in 18-19.
The Cambridge School of Weston is a progressive high school for day and boarding students in grades 9–12 and PG. CSW's mission is to provide a progressive education that emphasizes deep learning, meaningful relationships, and a dynamic program that inspires students to discover who they are and what their contribution is to their school, their community and the world.