A Principled Principal

The search is on. An entire committee is on the hunt for the next principal of Phillips Exeter Academy, and it is our job as members of the community to contribute thoughts on what an ideal principal would be. Because I am, despite the opinion of my coach, an active student on campus, it occurred to me to share my views with the rest of the school. The following is a list of four simple characteristics that I find necessary to exist in a future leader.1. A good leader is a people’s person. When the community cries, the principal cries. Which, by default, means that the principal must have completed a term of CompSci, as well as at least one 333, one RAL, and one Meditation.2. There are a lot of students at PEA that talk about change. Emphasis on talk. That being said, a new principal must abide by the Ice Cream Law. What would happen if the preps weren’t told about that one time that Mr. Hassan bought everyone something that they could already get at DHall? What would happen if we were not encouraged to wave while crossing the street? Not only would people stop waving, but their rudeness would extend to the classrooms. There would be interruptions without apologies, eventually leading to checking in late, which then leads to egging dorm fac houses, and consequently turns into a town revolt. Don’t let the new principal be a man or woman who doesn’t follow the Ice Cream Law, because at that point, he or she might as well not follow any laws.3. There’s no escaping assembly check, so we need someone who can put up with annoyed teenagers. When the people who actually showed up to assembly start hissing, the principal has to hiss back. Louder.4. And finally, my main concern is Principal’s Day. The job gets its own day, and I personally believe that the principal works too hard to get a mere 24 hours of recognition. Therefore, the new mockingjay of our school should be able to acknowledge their own awesomeness and make Principal’s Day a week-long event. The time could be filled with principal-centric festivities like the “Who Can Sleep the Longest for the Principal?,” or “Bridge Jumping Into a Great Spring Term Day!”You might say that I am asking for too perfect of a person, to which I respond by saying that you are wrong. If my hair were grayer and voice deeper, then I could practically accept the crown now. But for some reason, people tend not to like being managed by a 15-year-old girl that falls up the stairs on a daily basis. I nevertheless believe that there is someone out there who fulfills both my and the school’s requirements. Right now they could be writing reports in an office or rewatching Gossip Girl in bed, but one thing is for certain; in the upcoming year he or she will be found on the humor page.