A Voice in the Wilderness - Blog
What is it like to mentor younger students in boarding?
To ease the transition into boarding school, Shawnigan tasks selected Grade 11 students as Mentors to incoming Grade 8s. This year’s Mentors started out with the Grade 8s in Levien House (boys) or Stanton House (girls) before moving into Samuel House – our specially designed co-ed Grade 8 House – when it opened in February. One of the Grade 11 Mentors, Daniel Sun, explains what the experience meant to him.
I came to Shawnigan in my Grade 8 year, a year filled with both excitement and confusion. From the initial challenges and struggles I faced in fitting in with others to the eventual unbreakable bonds that I made with my peers, one thing could be concluded from it all: Grade 8 was a year of growth. Now, three years later, this story of growth is continuing, with touching similarities, yet also sharp contrasts. While previously this story was one of personal growth, becoming a Mentor in Samuel House has given me perhaps the greatest ability of all: the opportunity to help others pursue their own growth as individuals.
The memories and lessons that I had acquired those seemingly long years ago in Levien paved a definitive path for my decision to become a Mentor in my Grade 11 year. Many of these long-lasting memories and lessons acted as important guidelines on how I went about performing my duties throughout my term, yet it also acted as a reminder of what matters the most in all of this: becoming a pillar of support.
Being a Samuel House Mentor was not only a great privilege but also an incredible learning experience. As Grade 11 Mentors, we must ensure that our Grade 8s have a shoulder to lean on, a voice to represent them, and someone who leads by example to act as a role model for their years ahead here on campus. While it may be easy to list off the tasks and requirements that we must abide by, accomplishing them with meaning is our true objective.
Our mission isn’t about getting tasks done and checked off a list; it’s about making significant and long-lasting connections with the people who we work with on a daily basis. My biggest takeaway from my term as a Samuel House Mentor would be developing strong relationships with all of the boys. The most important thing that I lacked the most during my time in Grade 8 was someone who I was able to trust and talk to at any given time: a “big brother” away from home. Therefore, in my Grade 11 year, with the roles now reversed, I made it a personal commitment of mine to ensure that the boys had someone they could trust and someone they could depend on to support them through their ups and downs. An event that stood out to me this year in which I believe I have made a strong connection with our Grade 8s is during put-to-beds, which is often the best opportunity for us Mentors to check up on everyone and to have lighthearted or serious conversations in order to strengthen our sense of community and inclusion. These experiences not only allowed me to build meaningful connections with the boys, but also gave me the opportunity to learn from their own experiences and grow as an individual myself.
In Levien and Samuel, every day brings something new for everyone. From playing Wii Sports to coaching the runner up team for inter-House basketball’s most intense match (Levien vs. Levien), not a day went by without anticipation and excitement. Being able to become a Mentor in my Grade 11 year was an opportunity that allowed me to create memories that will stay with me for the rest of my life. It was an incredible experience that will play an instrumental role in my development as a leader and an individual moving forwards.
Daniel Sun is a Grade 11 student at Shawnigan Lake School and Mentor in Samuel House. He has been selected as a Prefect for the 2024-25 school year.
The memories and lessons that I had acquired those seemingly long years ago in Levien paved a definitive path for my decision to become a Mentor in my Grade 11 year. Many of these long-lasting memories and lessons acted as important guidelines on how I went about performing my duties throughout my term, yet it also acted as a reminder of what matters the most in all of this: becoming a pillar of support.
Being a Samuel House Mentor was not only a great privilege but also an incredible learning experience. As Grade 11 Mentors, we must ensure that our Grade 8s have a shoulder to lean on, a voice to represent them, and someone who leads by example to act as a role model for their years ahead here on campus. While it may be easy to list off the tasks and requirements that we must abide by, accomplishing them with meaning is our true objective.
Our mission isn’t about getting tasks done and checked off a list; it’s about making significant and long-lasting connections with the people who we work with on a daily basis. My biggest takeaway from my term as a Samuel House Mentor would be developing strong relationships with all of the boys. The most important thing that I lacked the most during my time in Grade 8 was someone who I was able to trust and talk to at any given time: a “big brother” away from home. Therefore, in my Grade 11 year, with the roles now reversed, I made it a personal commitment of mine to ensure that the boys had someone they could trust and someone they could depend on to support them through their ups and downs. An event that stood out to me this year in which I believe I have made a strong connection with our Grade 8s is during put-to-beds, which is often the best opportunity for us Mentors to check up on everyone and to have lighthearted or serious conversations in order to strengthen our sense of community and inclusion. These experiences not only allowed me to build meaningful connections with the boys, but also gave me the opportunity to learn from their own experiences and grow as an individual myself.
In Levien and Samuel, every day brings something new for everyone. From playing Wii Sports to coaching the runner up team for inter-House basketball’s most intense match (Levien vs. Levien), not a day went by without anticipation and excitement. Being able to become a Mentor in my Grade 11 year was an opportunity that allowed me to create memories that will stay with me for the rest of my life. It was an incredible experience that will play an instrumental role in my development as a leader and an individual moving forwards.
Daniel Sun is a Grade 11 student at Shawnigan Lake School and Mentor in Samuel House. He has been selected as a Prefect for the 2024-25 school year.
We acknowledge with respect the Coast Salish Peoples on whose traditional lands and waterways we live, learn and play. We are grateful for the opportunity to share in this beautiful region, and we aspire to healthy and respectful relationships with those who have lived on and cared for these lands for millennia.
Shawnigan Lake School is an independent co-educational boarding school for ages 13 –18 on Canada’s beautiful West Coast. Our diverse, interdisciplinary and innovative programming helps shape the next generation of global leaders.
