Dear Royals,

Happy February! Congratulations on completing your first semester of the 2023/24 school year. I’m so proud of your resilience, commitment, dedication, and willingness to push yourself beyond your comfort zones. I know everyone has been confronted with countless challenges, and I want to commend you on persevering through each hardship. With each step forward, you are making progress.

On the ASB front, we are making some changes to the way our student government operates. We’re going to be adding more positions and expanding the size of ASB/Leadership, empowering student leaders to participate meaningfully and engage with their student bodies however they feel best. In addition, we’re reimagining the role and impact of our Leadership Class, brainstorming ways for us to involve as many Royals as possible in student-directed initiatives. Change is different and it can be uncomfortable, but it’s necessary. I can’t wait to witness the growth of our Royals with this new leadership model, and I highly encourage each of you reading this to be part of the movement and join ASB!!!

Secondly, I want to reiterate my gratitude and appreciation for an incredible first semester. We definitely experienced the peaks and valleys, putting our endurance and stamina to the test everyday. Yet, we persisted. You persisted. And, you made it to Term 3!

As we enter the new term and settle into the new year (Happy 2024, by the way!), I commit to keep on persisting. I’m going to keep showing up, everyday, however I can. I’m going to give my 100%, and I’m going to accept that my 100% won’t always be the same. I plan to invest in the people, places, and activities that bring me joy. I’m not going to be scared to take risks and live my fullest, most unapologetic life. When it turns out well, I’m going to celebrate! If it doesn’t, I’m going to learn. Seems like a win-win to me. 

We’re going to practice kindness, to ourselves, our people, and our planet. And, we’re going to understand that kindness looks different at different times. Maybe today, being kind is going to dinner with an old friend. Maybe tomorrow, it’s going  on a walk outside. Next week, it might be putting that phone down and doing homework early so we can sleep at a reasonable hour. We will adapt to our needs, and we’re going to appreciate the flexibility of life. And if you ever feel off track, just remember:  the windiest roads often make for the most beautiful journeys. Take the 154 if you don’t believe me. Have a tremendous Term 3, Royals!