This interview is part of a series, called “We Are Lakefield” — inspired by a phrase you’ll often hear our students and Head of School (Ms. Kee) say with pride (followed by “We got this.”) when community spirit and strength are employed to power through a uniquely challenging time, event, or activity. In this series, you’ll hear personal reflections from our students that provide valuable insight into what it means to be a part of the LCS community.
This week, we spoke with one of our Grade 11 Grade Representatives, Devon ’23 to learn more about his experience at Lakefield College School. In this article, Devon speaks about how he decided to attend LCS, how he adjusted to life on campus, his favourite activities to do at LCS, and more!
Deciding to Attend LCS Wasn’t Rocket Science
“I first learned about LCS when I expressed an interest in returning to Canada for high school. I told my parents that I was almost certainly going to end up moving back to Canada, whether for university or another reason, so it seemed like a good idea to consider going to a Canadian boarding school. My parents and I researched boarding schools in Ontario and one of my dad’s colleagues, Chris Hadfield (Canadian Astronaut), suggested LCS because some of his children had attended. I ended up choosing LCS because of how included I felt in the community, even from just one day here.”
Becoming a Part of the LCS Family
“I adjusted pretty well to life at LCS. I’ve always been somewhat of an introvert, not that I have any problems with being social. I just tend to get tired after being around people all day. I recharge by being alone and relaxing. I can’t say that I haven’t missed my old friends and being a day student back at my old school in Texas, but I am truly glad to have come to LCS and it now feels like my home and the people feel like my family.”
Forming Lifelong Friendships
“I have met all kinds of people here at LCS. Because of my friends, teachers, support network, and coaches, I feel as though I am enjoying all aspects of my life from sports to academics. Some of the relationships I have made at LCS will likely last the rest of my life and I will never forget some of my favourite memories here with the Lakefield family.”
Learning Beyond the Classroom
“I participate in a lot of activities at LCS and honestly I wish I had time to do more. I play three sports (soccer, hockey, and ultimate frisbee), three games of Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), and many different video games with some friends from school. I also take piano lessons and a variety of different classes, which allow me to get to know so many different people. I think having so many activities does provide some challenge as to planning and scheduling and it can get stressful, but it contributes positively to my life and my overall happiness.”
Life After Lakefield
“After LCS, I plan to attend university in Canada. I will likely study Architecture and I hope to play varsity soccer wherever I end up. Lakefield has given me plenty of opportunities to learn new skills, from online classes with independent work skills to being a Grade Rep with leadership responsibilities, and so much more.”
#WeAreLakefield
“I would definitely recommend LCS to anyone. The two things I like most about Lakefield College School are the community and the flexibility. If you want to do something that’s not offered at LCS, they will make a great effort to create an opportunity for you. One example of this is my D&D games. When I first arrived at LCS, there was no D&D but one of my friends got a few people together and ran a game. The next year, we pushed for it to be added as a club to fulfill a creative requirement, and succeeded. This year, we have three games being run for the D&D club and a few more being run between friends. This applies to pretty much anything. The library is happy to order any book you may need or want to read, the school is open to creating new sports or creative programs if enough interest is shown, and learning opportunities such as taking a class at Trent University, or an online course are options as well depending on the year.”