"I saw it as a great opportunity to improve myself," says Dalen of his decision to join the recently revived
De La Salle College cadet corps. "It's an amazing leadership program."
Nicholas French, assistant headmaster at
St. Andrew's College, also talks about leadership. "Last week we were interviewing boys for next year's house captain positions," he says-boys he has not taught since they were in middle school. "It was something to see the remarkable difference in their maturity-I was amazed how these boys had grown into young men. The change in them is so dramatic and so inspiring," he says. He puts it down to the school's total program, especially sports, "offering opportunities for leadership and community service."
Lucy, 16, decided when some of her friends from junior grades were leaving
The Linden School that was not the course for her: "It would limit my leadership opportunities."
For Dalen, too, the cadet experience was crucial. "I am the ranking cadet in the corps now," says the Grade 12 student. "I am head of 16 people, and we actually organize events in the school."
