Being student representatives on the North Toronto Foundation has been not only a privilege but a delight. In the beginning, we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into and were frankly a little intimidated. As both the youngest and the newest, we knew absolutely nothing about how anything worked within the community that the Foundation had built over the years. Nevertheless, we were not surprised to be greeted with open
arms and warm smiles at our first meeting – NT’s welcoming tradition in action. Everyone introduced themselves with their name and grad year and, of course, some background information on themselves.

The Foundation usually holds about five or six two-hour meetings throughout the school year. On some topics, such as financials and newsletter discussions, we don’t have much to contribute. However, when it comes to what’s currently going on inside the walls of NT, we can definitely contribute student knowledge, such as thoughts on club activities and upcoming school-run events, and updates on everything from recent athletic achievements to events such as Midnight Madness or Mental Health Awareness Week.
A more specifically defined job of ours is to work alongside another Foundation member to organize the Dragons’ Dens. We help with the promotional and organizational aspects of the event, serve as MCs during the presentations and contribute background information on the clubs when the time comes to vote.

Being on this committee has taught us many skills that we will be able to use in the future. While both of us have been involved with councils at North Toronto and have run many events, the difference between a school-run committee and the alumni council is huge. We’ve gotten a feel for what real responsibility is, and an understanding of how to handle big projects that involve hundreds of people. In addition, it has been incredible to hear the beginnings of real-world initiatives, such as the acquisition of a trophy case or the creation of the Foundation News. Overall, serving on the  Foundation has been an amazing experience!

Eleni Anastasiadis and Jake Ballantyne