It’s not often that Mr. Lakes and I have to look up to look one of our Grade 9 students in the eye, but in the case of Harvey Hadley ‘27, that is exactly what we must do. While he is a physical presence in the Junior School, he is also an intellectual one as his curiosity, love of learning, and positive attitude permeate through the Junior School. Harvey, the son of staff members Phillip and Shari, is in his second year as a student here at KES after having lived on campus for several years.
Originally from California, Harvey learned the techniques and mindset to be a lightning-fast swimmer at a young age. Now, thanks to his continued work in and out of the water (and a few extra inches of wingspan) he ranks as one of the best swimmers in the province. Like all leaders, however, Harvey has shown his willingness to step outside of his comfort zone this winter and has decided to try things out for size on the hard court with our Junior Boys basketball team – much to the delight of Coach Lakes, I might add!
Regardless of whether it's during the last days of summer when he was willing to assist with our Junior School welcome video, daily in the classroom, in the pool, or on the hard court, Harvey is a leader in all he does.
What does leadership mean to you?
Leadership is a role that people play whose main function is to help others fulfill their potential.
What are the traits you think leaders need to have to be successful?
A really important part of leadership is communication. Being confident when speaking in public helps instill confidence in others. I also think that leaders need to put others first and focus on lifting them up.
How do you think we can lift others up?
I think the best way to lift people up is to focus on the strengths of others and celebrating their achievements.
How would others describe your leadership style?
I’m someone who is most comfortable leading from the front. As we talked about (in our Grade 9 leadership program) leading from the front with authority can be scary for some people, but I think I do the best in that type of role.
From your experiences as a swimmer, are there any lessons you’ve learned in the pool that are transferrable for you as a leader out of the water?
Realizing that sometimes the hard things, or the things that you don’t want to do are actually the most important things to do because that’s the only way to improve.
Who is someone you look up to as a leader?
There are two people that instantly come to mind. They are very different but I can learn from them both. The first is KES Swimming Coach Moira Milward. She has a very direct approach but as a former Olympian she has so much experience and I learn a lot from her.
The other is my dad. His approach is different; he provides people with the freedom to choose. He’ll show you how to do but it’s up to you to do it. He’ll give you a path to achieve your goals, but it's up to you to do it. Once he sees their commitment, he’ll really invest his time. These two approaches are great guides for me and show me that there are different ways to help people succeed.
What are your goals for the year?
Academically, I’m motivated to make it to the international level for science fair. I’m actually in the process of completing the application right now as there is an upcoming deadline soon. Athletically, I’d like to final at Junior Nationals and qualify for Senior Nationals.
What advice would you give someone entering KES?
Just do it. Whatever it is, do it because you don’t know what opportunities will come from that decision. It can open doors, you can meet new people, and if you take the chance to do new things then you have an opportunity to look back on your experiences and be proud of them.
Rory Campbell
Junior School Faculty
Basketball & Rugby Coach
