05s - red and white.qxp - Stanstead College

OUR SCHOOLHead Prefect - Kim McNamaraOver March break, my mother found herself on a beach in Cuba admiringa cluster of seashells when a man stopped and they began to talk. Momentslater, they learned that they were connected to Stanstead College, where hehad been a student in the sixties.Though normally I would have been amazed by such a coincidence, Ibegan to think about just how many connections must exist all over theworld through this little private school in the Eastern Townships of Quebec.There must be thousands of former students around the globe for whom the mention of Stanstead College initiates a wave of memoriesand emotion. Stanstead is a place one never forgets.Here is the Stanstead College I know: The old brick buildings stand proud in a fresh, inspiring,natural milieu. Flags flutter at the entrance drive, affectionately known as “the heart.” Talltrees hang over the strikingly green front lawns that welcome students enjoying the freedomof the spring sun. Just tonight, from the fifth floor of Colby, I gazed out at the sun settingover the blue mountains, a warm orange streaming into the hallway.Further on campus lies the Spartan turf, marking decades of spirit, pride, dedication, andhard work. I imagine bygone Spartans giving their entire energy and effort for a moment ofvictory, for their team mates and their school. Today, when my rugby team invests heart andsoul into a play, we can hear our rugby boys, arm in arm, chanting a powerful “Guide Me O”on the sidelines.On Thursdays after school Kim headsout to Newport Elementary to put smileson these youngsters faces as part of hercommunity service contribution.This gesture, to me, symbolizes what Stanstead College and its people are all about: community.Our community focuses on its members and their development, encouraging eachindividual to “dare to excel.” There have been countless instances at Stanstead when I havefound myself pushed far beyond my comfort zone. Through these challenges, I have come tounderstand that it is only when you venture onto unfamiliar ground that you build characterand discover your true potential. Excellence is indeed something for which one must strive, and Stanstead College helps its studentsfirst desire it, then attain it.Stanstead College is unique. It is small yet universally large. Through Stanstead, I have felt that the world is not so overwhelminglyvast after all. Conferences, exchanges, national tournaments, speakers, service projects, athletic trips, shared perspectives andcultures, and especially the presence of our international students, inspired the fitting theme of the past Red & White issue, “TheWorld Meets Here.” My favourite place on campus is our dining hall because the school is united under a ceiling of flags. A collectionof bright people from very different backgrounds find themselves in this one room, breaking bread together. When aware ofthis, I feel harmony and hope.All in all, it makes one realize how utterly astounding the Stanstead experience really is. We are extremely fortunate to have beengiven opportunities for extraordinary personal growth and betterment.On behalf of all those who have been lucky enough to attend Stanstead College, I would like to thank everyone who has contributed,or continues to contribute, in some way to the Stanstead experience. From myself personally, thank you to a wonderfulcrew of teachers who encouraged me as I grew up on this campus, to a headmaster who opened door after door for me, to coachesand club leaders who taught me meaningful life lessons, to the prefects who invested in the spirit of the school, to the fantasticsmiling support staff, and to all those whohave shaped Stanstead over the years to bewhat it is today. Lastly, thank you to myfamily and friends who bring meaning tomy life.I look forward to finding you on a beachone day, where we can share another greatStanstead moment!12