STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
PRACTICE MAKES PREFECT: JACOB BUCHAN '21:
HOW ONE STUDENT LEADER REINVENTED HIS ROLE IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19
BY LAUREN ALPERN
An article on LinkedIn about successful leadership lists connecting as one of the key leadership strategies that drive success. Sonya Shelton writes, “When you encourage others and show you care about them, you draw them forward even when they face challenges and obstacles. How can you connect with your team today?” As Head Prefect, Jacob Buchan ’21 has had the immense challenge of trying to connect and engage the entire student body during a year where nothing has been normal, where nothing is the same as in previous years, where classes have shifted from in-school to online and back again, where students are cohorted and cannot mingle, where Ketchum Hall is no longer a Great Hall for dining and social activities, but a quiet area divided into Junior School classrooms. A daunting task, to say the least. But Jacob has risen to the challenge in impressive ways with the help of an impressive team. Armed with nine other Prefects—many of whom were House Captains during their Grade 11 year, which ended in lockdown, and many of whom were Captains during their Grade 8 year—Jacob and his team are a talented and determined group of leaders who won’t let something like a pandemic stop them from ensuring an engaged and connected school. “The beginning was, of course, uncertain: everything is easier in person, from meetings and events, to just being present, and mixing and mingling with students from other grades,” said Jacob. “We’ve really had to think about how to rework this year, from assemblies and social initiatives to connections with the Junior School. My fellow Prefects are fantastic guys and amazing peers, and the leadership coordinators, Ms. Kaye and Ms. Girvan, are phenomenal leaders, so I never felt like we’d be struggling with this task.” And they haven’t. From virtual assemblies, a new Prefect Instagram account, podcasts and a virtual escape room with Grade 9s to weekly Gather.Town meetups, online social events with sister schools and a virtual initiative where the Prefects “visit” the Junior School in their classrooms, it’s clear that connectivity and engagement are still thriving at RSGC. “We had been doing virtual assemblies throughout the end of Grade 11, so the school was already used to that, and my other Communications Prefects, Joey Lisser and Sebastian Raman, are digital media virtuosos,” said Jacob. “It’s the social initiatives that are a struggle. We really had to think: Will people want to join an online event after a long day of online school? Michael Keene and Hunter Durand have run a number of initiatives that have been very successful. Other things like the mental health initiative Mind: Your Business and the Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA) have had a big uptick in attendance because it’s not a huge effort to come. It’s just a click on your computer and you’re there.” At the same time, the “new” way of doing things has required a lot more work and planning for Jacob and his team. For Jacob, he and his fellow Communications Prefects now have to spend hours working on each assembly, whereas before, there was no time commitment other than standing up in front of the Senior School and inviting people to make announcements. Jacob, Joey and Sebastian now have to gather announcements from numerous platforms, write a script, meet, plan and then edit. “It’s a lot of backstage planning and editing, which has introduced a new element. It’s a big investment,” said Jacob. “I think we’ve all enjoyed making our assemblies as dynamic as possible. But it is a bit of work, especially now with the added Instagram account. That’s why we now have three Communications Prefects instead of one.”
And while Jacob and his team have learned on the fly and adapted with whatever curveballs have been thrown at them, they’re still mourning the loss of simple things like just being present with others. “We can’t just say hello to everyone, ask how someone did on their test or wave at a Junior School student when we walk by on our way to lunch.” There have, however, also been pros. “This has really allowed everyone involved with leadership to shape the role in accordance with what they want to do, because there’s so much more room to innovate. People have really been able to get creative,” said Jacob. “We’re doing everything we can to stay connected, and I think, all things considered, we’ve been largely successful.” Student Leadership Coordinator Julie Girvan says there are many reasons why Jacob has been so successful in his role this year.
“Trying to keep kids connected to each other and to the school has really been a priority for him,” said Julie. “He’s an empathetic person, and he’s able to put himself in other people’s shoes. He’s also a hardworking, conscientious young man and whatever he commits to, he gives 100 per cent. He has a strong desire to do well, and he follows through with it.” Julie says that the Prefects have had to be creative in rethinking some of the typical activities, and that they amaze her on a regular basis. “I continue to be impressed with them every week, with what they bring to the role and what they want to bring to the school. They continue to rise to the challenge,” said Julie. “Ms. Kaye and I say every week that they’re so impressive. They come up with great initiatives and ideas, and they run with them. It makes our job easy.” Felix Brink, the Student Life and Wellness Prefect, has been at RSGC with Jacob since Grade 7. They were Grade 8 Captains together and were House Captains together in Grade 11. While Felix adapts and adjusts his own leadership styles during COVID-19, he feels that Jacob is the perfect man for the Head Prefect role. “I feel like Jacob was made for this role and has definitely come into his own. He’s great at leading the meetings, he’s such a great mediator, and he’s always ready to work and be productive,” said Felix. “But I also know that he’s always trying to improve and adapt to the coronavirus. He’s always trying to come up with new ways to keep people engaged.” Felix has a few reasons why he thinks Jacob makes a great leader. “His patience and ability to compromise. He also has an incredible public speaking ability,” said Felix. “Plus, I can tell you this: he’s very good at what he does. This isn’t it for him. You can expect more.” Time will tell what Jacob Buchan comes up with next to help the RSGC community stay connected. He’s certainly one to watch.