Being a Head of House, w/Ms. Stevens

How did you get to this position? What did you do before?

I've been at the school in my current role as a nurse manager in the health services prior to being the head of house. But throughout my journey with my position, I've just been sharing my interests in being a head of house. And then taking part in different leadership opportunities and showing and demonstrating my skills as far as being able to be head of house through leadership, through communication, through relationship building so just kind of showing those aspects of my characteristics that would fit into this role as well.

What was your journey to get to this position?

You have to show that you are living the Ridley motto, upholding the values. I did take part in different things like duty in miller house when we had that, I was a member of G-East’s duty team, I went on service trips as a chaperone, participated as a supervisor in different clubs and activities, and also went to New York city and mainly monitored the Burgoyne house. Just doing different activities in the school like that. That would explain my journey into the position, just getting myself into different roles and opportunities to be able to experience what it would be like. Supervising and being responsible for students in a way outside of my current role at Ridley and expanding on that.

What has been your favourite part of being head of house?

I think it's the ability just to be able to have an impact on the lives of the students in a different way than my previous and my current other role allows me to. You are in a position where you sort of shape how they feel about the school, how engaged they could be, the relationships they make and their overall experience. The ability to create an atmosphere where the students hopefully are feeling heard, hopefully feel like they have space that promotes mental health and have a space where they feel like they can excel academically and look back on their years once they move on from Ridley as a positive experience and somewhere that maybe they want their children to go one day.

What is the biggest challenge you've faced?

I think that the challenge is, and I think it would probably be the same for any heads of house; it's just organization and time management. It is a big, big job especially if you do, and everybody does, have other roles as well. So, I think it's just an ability to organize your time and to be able to give all of your roles, even personally as well like as a parent, wife, etc., you want to be able to give everybody the best of you and not drop the ball anywhere. Not forgetting things and of course it happens but that's the biggest challenge, making sure you’re doing the best job in all aspects of your life.

What do you want to contribute to Ridley’s legacy and school environment?

I think what I want to contribute would be just being able to create a supportive environment and being known for a space that was feeling inclusive and home-like and very welcoming. Being able to leave one day when I do move on from the role, that people look back and say during that time the house was very welcoming, I felt like I belonged at Ridley, I felt like I had a home even though I wasn't at home.

How do you handle your busy schedule?

Relying on organizational skills and all the tools we teach you guys such as, put it in your calendar and set yourself a reminder. Using those same skills for myself as well and then also doing my own self care practices. You have to take some time for yourself, whether that just be going for a walk in the night or having a really good dinner or even going to bed early and just winding down and shutting it off, saying okay I am going to do everything tomorrow because tonight is just going to be about me or whatever that might be. You manage it by taking care of yourself so that you can take care of others.

What are your pros and cons of living on campus?

Well of course the pro being right here. I don't have to commute anywhere; I walk out my door and I'm at work in either role. And also, that sense of community, you always feel like you’re part of a community and there's so much ease and access to whatever social event might be happening, a hockey game that might be going on, basketball game, volleyball, etc. You can just literally walk out your door and be a part of a community and experience it. So that's a huge pro to living on campus. I guess the con would be just learning how to shut it down. Sometimes it's so easy just to keep going because you're so accessible and you're so there. So when you maybe should be taking that time to yourself it's so easy to just not have that boundary, to continue doing something, like coming into the dorm or going back to my other job, or continue with emails, or continue with other communications and our planning, etc. because you're here so it always feels like its happening so you have to learn how to turn it down and so you have that bit of separation.

How do you stay motivated to always be around and helping students? Can it be tiring?

I think it comes from a passion for the role. Just like if you really like a sport, or you really like an academic field or study. Like books, you're always going to be reading, and people will ask aren't you tired of reading books but no you love it so much so you could just keep reading, or for sports you can just keep playing. So, it just comes from a passion for being with the students, wanting to be a part of their lives, for wanting to make their journey better and continue to improve and to be present. That's where the motivation comes from for sure.