By Lynessa O’Connor
With each new year, comes a selection of the students that are hand picked to lead the house in the position of Prefect. The nest welcomes three new prefects to the fold, and one who has returned to put up with us for the most part. Morgan Atheria, Caspian Ashworth, Casey Champion, and Everett Marston. Each has their own capabilities that have brought them to the positions that they now hold within the castle walls, but I wanted to get to know how they all felt when they got the news of being selected.
When I asked each of them if they were surprised about being selected for house prefect this is what each of them had to say:
“I was a little, even though that might seem unlikely to your readers. While I have been a captain of the quidditch team for a few years now, one might think becoming a prefect is just the next step. However, I see it a bit differently. I love quidditch and have studied as much as I possibly can about it. This gives me a kind of confidence in myself when it comes to leading a team. Being prefect is a different kind of leadership. You have to be more observant and more outspoken, more of the time. I’m still working on this aspect of myself, and I hope that, with time, I can do the position the justice it deserves.”
Casey
“Not really, I’ve been in this position before. Haven’t gotten into any real trouble lately, kind of just assumed I’d be picked again. Or did you mean the first time around? I petitioned Green like crazy to be considered. Cleaned up my act. So no, wasn’t a big surprise.”
Everett
“I was, actually! I guess I underestimate myself more often then I realize, but I was very pleased when I got my letter and I couldn’t wait to get started.”
Morgan
“I was a little surprised, yes.”
Caspian
We all know that the badge is not just one more thing to adorn our uniforms here at school, but comes with the heavy burden of responsibility. Rounds are to be made, uniforms to be checked, discipline to be distributed. None of which is for the faint to heart when it comes to decision making. I had asked Casey what he wished to accomplish with his new title of Prefect within the Eagle’s nest.
“Well, I’m not sure there is something to be achieved, is there? I mean, you’re named prefect so you can assist with discipline and making sure your fellow students follow the rules. I guess, applying the question to myself, I hope that I can achieve a higher level of confidence, and be helpful to people.”
Casey, may the odds be forever in your favour of accomplishing what you hope in your time serving to represent the house.
When Morgan was asked about what her favourite part of becoming prefect was so far this year,
“I really enjoy getting to know my peers on a deeper level than I normally would have. There’s something rewarding about when others come to you for advice or even just a technical question. It makes you feel good when you’re able to help someone and I look forward to getting to know even more of my classmates as the year goes on.”
It’s a noble venture and someone needed to be assigned the task. Keep up the momentum and be the one the eaglet’s and others can look up to in the future.
There are many aspects of the responsibility that come with the weight of the world on your shoulders and when I asked Caspian what had been the hardest part of his newly acquired position, he stated
“So far it’s having to push myself to approach people I almost never talk to. Sometimes it might be to give them assistance, and other times it might be to tell them they are not in proper uniform.”
Perhaps taking that leap and putting yourself out there and opening up to others might just be how this new Eagle prefect spreads his wings finally.
In talking with the veteran house prefect out of the nest, Everett gave some solid advice to those who aspire to be prefect in the future.
“Do it for the sake of helping others, and not personal gain. The wizarding world doesn’t stamp your CV when you get the badge. It doesn’t give you a free pass to be an arsehole or the top of the class. True, you are supposed to be a standard for which others strive towards, but that’s rarely the case. They won’t care. You just gotta be you. If you like helping people, then go for it.”
Some wise words from someone with experience on the job. Here’s to letting your leadership be the shining example for the new leaders in the house.
In taking the time to get to know each of them over the years, one could say that they have their work cut out for them. Us Ravenclaws can be a feisty bunch from time to time. Cheers to you all and good luck in the upcoming year with all that you have to face in your new leadership position and may you serve as a shining role model to the other students of the house!
