Written by Leadership Kickoff Co-chairs Anthony Tang and Zoe Chetty.
Canfield BHP Class of 2025 gathers for a picture at the annual Leadership Kickoff event in front of the tower. Picture courtesy of Hannah Johnson.
Coming off the past year of isolation amid the pandemic, CBHP freshmen, staff, and students were eager to launch their school year with an in-person event. Seeing their peers after months of online learning was, for many freshmen, a formative college experience. Traditionally, the Leadership Kickoff is an overnight event held at the Newcombe Tennis Ranch. However, this year, we did something a bit different in order to better adhere to COVID-19 safety guidelines. The event was a huge success. Holding stations and games on campus gave students the necessary time to explore, meet peers, and become acquainted with McCombs.
Students playing a rope game at the leadership kickoff event. Picture courtesy of Hannah Johnson.
Some of the organized activities included organizing and performing a chant, writing letters to their future selves, a ropes challenge in which teams compete to build shapes, and even an ethical scenario discussion, organized by Ethics Board co-lead Nicholas Kao (Class of ‘24). The activities were split between in and outdoors to give the students a break from the sun. In some rotations like the pipe cleaner activity, where students make a representation of themselves using only a single pipe cleaner, peers learned fun facts about each other. Through these activities, students experienced the perfect blend of friendly competition and fun.
Students getting ready to chant off at Leadership Kickoff. Picture courtesy of Hannah Johnson.
Riya Manohar reflects on her experience: “I loved the kickoff because I got to meet new people and get closer with my peer mentor group! My favorite part was the chant-off, which was easily one of the most fun (and hilariously embarrassing) activities I’ve participated in.”
Aside from the fun and games, students formed connections with one another. Through the guidance of peer mentors and thoughtfully constructed debriefing questions, students were able to open up in small groups. Additionally, skills of teamwork, effective communication, and problem-solving were developed. Among physical activities, mental games were present, testing students’ abilities to solve puzzles and engage in friendly competition. Stations like these not only provided an intellectual challenge but also sparked the teamwork that will be present within the Class of ‘25 for the next four years.
Creixell’s Crew posing for a picture at Leadership Kickoff. Picture courtesy of Hannah Johnson.
Through the ups and downs, and planning in a summer of uncertainty, we can confidently say Leadership Kickoff 2021 was a success. Not only were students able to create bonds in small groups, but a community was formed within the larger Class of ‘25 and beyond. Humanizing each other outside of the classroom in such ways involving friendly competition and collaboration is what makes CBHP so special. Freshmen were truly shown their cohort is made up of people to lean on, laugh with or study with for the remainder of college and beyond.
Looking forward we hope to foster the spirit and community created here at Leadership Kickoff. We encourage each CBHP’er to accept challenges as openly as they did on this day and continue working in teams. The success of this event was not only possible because of the planning, but also because of the care and support of all those in the CBHP community. Seeing success in this event shows that the relationships that form at kickoff go beyond the games played and even the classroom.