Friday morning we had our first timed run-swim. There was a sense of anxiousness around the girl’s dorm for the feeling that this morning exercise would feel like a “race”. But as we began the track of plunging in and out of the water, hopping over branches while running through the woods, and climbing up and leaping off rock walls, it turned out to be an adventure. It was one of the most fun and exciting morning exercises we have had yet. Some finishers completed the exercise in the top of the pack, and I think I finished somewhere in the middle. The incredible thing about finishing later is how many cheering fans you will have within your peers. When I was running to the flagpole, my run quickly flipped into a sprint because I heard Isabel and Ann Gray telling me that I could do it. Therefore no matter where you finish, it feels really good! John Schatz’s explained that it wasn’t a race against each other; it was a race against ourselves. Knowing that I will improve only leaves me excited to attack the next timed run-swim.

We also had a community meeting yesterday morning, a time for all of the students and faculty to be together and discuss one common theme. First, we divided into small groups to discuss qualities of leadership and how influential leaders would fit those adjectives. It was interesting to discuss with my group, especially because I ended up in a group with students who I don’t have a lot of classes with. Then, we all grouped up again. The caciques led a self-reflective game where we had to identify what type of leader we were. For example, you could be “a driver”, who is a natural leader and loves control or a “relationship master” who is very good at working with people. Again, we were jumbled up so I was discussing with a great mix of a group. We all got to share what leadership meant to us and how we thought we did or didn’t fulfill that role. Many of my peers spoke eloquently about the topic. For example, members of our group spoke on how being a very emotionally invested leader can have both its pros and cons. It was really cool to hear fellow students and teachers explain their definition of leadership, because not a single one was similar. It just shows that there is no specific mold to being a leader, and it is a position that every student can fulfill in their own unique way.