Leaders by Example

When Zoe McKinnell ‘08 joined the Greenwood community in 2004, she had no idea she would leave it four years later as one of the Heads of Student Leadership.

Zoe is quiet by nature, and she thought that might prevent her from taking on formal leadership roles at school. However, she quickly learned that there are many kinds of leaders -- and that all of them are impactful. “No matter your personality, Greenwood helps you become the leader you are going to be based on your own attributes,” Zoe says. “That was really valuable for me.” (A licensed physician, Zoe recently completed her fellowship in Hematology and Oncology at George Washington University; read her story here.)

At Greenwood, we want to help all students develop their leadership potential. We recognize that that journey will look slightly different for each individual, which is why we offer a wide range of opportunities to take the lead. Starting in Grade 7, students can run for Grade Rep, join a committee or propose a new club based on their interests. Read on in this edition of Life @ Greenwood for an overview of the many committees available for students to join.

Throughout their time at Greenwood, students build on the previous year’s experience to hone their leadership abilities. In their Grade 11 year, we intentionally focus on preparing students for their position as school leaders in Grade 12. Through Outdoor Education programming and a Spring Leadership Retreat, students plan for their graduating year and prepare for this important role, with every member of the class having an opportunity to make their voice heard and share their opinions.

For many students, their leadership journey culminates in running for Head of Student Leadership or applying to be a Committee Executive or House Captain in Grade 12. However, we recognize and celebrate that there are many other ways to show leadership, such as stage managing the school play, running a Service Learning program, captaining a team or mentoring younger students. All of these leadership roles require integrity, empathy, courage and communication, and all of them make important contributions to our community.

We also recognize that leadership by example happens every single day, in dozens of small but significant ways. It happens when a student goes out of their way to open a door, or cleans up a mess that they didn’t make, or is the first to volunteer to share their work in class (even when they’re nervous). These quiet demonstrations of leadership are noticed by students and staff alike; while they are not showy, they demonstrate care for, and commitment to, the Greenwood community, and they are part of what makes our school such a special place.