Head boy For Thomas, being chosen as head boy at his school was the greatest honour he had ever known. It was also a huge responsibility, having to represent the school at public events and give speeches on occasion. He looked forward to speaking for his school; he didn’t suffer from the same fear of public speaking that most people in the world possess. He attributed this to his skills in theatre and the number of performances he had participated in since childhood.
Becoming head boy had taken quite a lot of convincing on Thomas’s part. When he met the head teacher at his school, a stern but deeply kind lady who prided herself on demanding the best from her students no matter how difficult the challenge, he couldn’t help but feel a bit intimidated. He had to prove to this cornerstone of the teaching establishment that he was fit to lead his students, to listen to their concerns and to put them before his own.
He had a difficult task ahead of him, for it was his responsibility to always project the school in a positive light. More than that, he had to promote proper behaviour through setting an example, but also by monitoring the other students and reporting those with less than appropriate mannerisms. While he was well-liked in school, he imagined he would probably make some enemies along the way.
At least that’s what his brother had warned him about. Daniel had been his predecessor three years earlier. Naturally, he gave him hints and tips about how to be successful at being chosen as well as fulfilling duties. But the pressure to excel was immense, as the other students tended to watch you like a hawk. They were waiting for you to step out of line, as they feared you might be looking at them the same way.
In addition to the general student body, there was the student council to manage. This was the committee of students who had been elected by other students to represent their interests in discussions with the teachers. Thomas had to stay on top of things there as well, to make sure the elected members were fulfilling their duties on the council. It was another layer of responsibility that only a brilliant head boy or head girl could manage. Thomas felt he was up to the challenge, even though his brother conveyed to him that he might run out of steam towards the end of the school year.
In addition to his homework assignments, he would be tasked with writing letters to the education ministry to improve school facilities. He would be responsible for leading weekly meetings of the student council, which required a great deal of organising. He would have to organise student volunteer projects and see to it that the young adults with special needs in the local community were included in student events.
His evenings and weekends would have to be dedicated to fulfilling these needs. He realised being a successful head boy would demand a considerable sacrifice, but he viewed it as a learning experience that would prepare him for his future. Great things came of head boys and girls, for learning how to be a leader at such a young age paved the way for success in later life.
His first duty was to draft a proposal for a Model United Nations conference, in which students would act as delegates from various countries to discuss world issues. It was a tall order for a first assignment, and even though he and the student council seemed eager for the challenge, Thomas knew he had his work cut out for him. |