“Temperantia, Fiducia, Constantia.” These are the three words that sit below our school crest are translated as the familiar Kent School motto: “Simplicity of Life, Directness of Purpose, Self-Reliance.”“ We see these words every day, but how do they really define the Kent community? The answer lies within our student body and the young leaders of our campus – leaders like current Senior Prefect Dana Burnett.
At Kent since the start of her third-form year, Dana has watched the campus evolve and shift with each coming class over her four years. It became part of her purpose here to begin leading the change she wished to see. In her freshman year she became her form representative and started to work closely with Tripp Christman, who now serves with her as Senior Prefect. Together, through their shared vision, they have worked to create a better campus in service of their classmates.
Working closely with Mr. Coulombe, Mrs. Clarke and a number of other faculty members, Dana devotes her attention to the lives of her peers. Senior counsel members being able to have “respectful pushback,” says Dana, and comfort in voicing opposing ideas, has fostered a collaborative environment for growth shared by the SC and the faculty with whom they work.
Although the student body is grateful for Dana, much of her hard work is unseen. Dana has had to learn how to hold the pressure of her role and still meet the demands that the role asks of her. In doing so, she has discovered her own direction, to foster a positive community to maintain Kent culture, that is, “A place where everybody is heard is a place where everybody can thrive.”
Dana’s commitment to her role is an example of how to honor the community that we are part of. In a recent interview she shared that, “We put our wants aside for the greater good of the school.” She seeks to extend this practice to a role in law or government in her future, where she will continue to work hard to contribute to the greater good of the whole. Student leaders like Dana exemplify the best parts of the Kent School motto, embracing simplicity of life, directness of purpose, and self-reliance in everything she does.
