On the coat-tails of my final exam, I was feverishly packing. Toiletries, towels, pajamas, snacks-tick, tick, tick off my makeshift packing list, but there was one thing I was sure not to forget, and that was my confidence. Confidence would be irreplaceable where I was going. No, I was not setting sail for a tropical island, or jetting off to a foreign country, I was embarking on a life altering experience. I was headed for Ontario Educational Leadership Centre, OELC.
Situated in Orillia, Ontario, this beautiful lake-side camp was a magical place where friends were made, trust bonds were reinforced, positive behaviours were taught, team work skills were developed, and above all new-found self-esteem was discovered. Although this program is known as “Secondary Music Leadership,” this was certainly no “band camp” experience. While we did tote our instruments through wooded areas, tall grass, and play in open air to a bite-sized audience of insects, a lot more that music was made throughout our 7 day stay. Band and vocal sectionals were only two of the activities buried amidst many Leadership Development workshops and activities with our sections. Most sections consisted of a “brother” and “sister” cabin, and by the end of the week, these terms would become an understatement to the closeness of those in their respective sections.
Although usually fun, these sessions were challenging, and forced us to look within ourselves to find what we had to offer to assist in manipulating what we were given to solve the problem or scenario we were presented with. At times there was frustration, desperation, and even failure, but despite setbacks, as music leaders, we began to rise above our former levels of personal and collective excellence, to achieve success. Time and time again, the words of day one presenter, Julie, were echoed: “This is the line, this is where we live, far above the line.”
Yes, we had left our homes, where we were safely hovering around our own lines, our own personal bests, but the moment we dared to set foot into our cabins, we took a step up, above that initial line. As we began to get to know and eventually trust those in our cabins, our sections, and those around us, the former line we stood on was a figment of the past. We were reaching for new heights, climbing above any line of insecurity or former hesitation, like the steps of a ladder.
At the close of the program, saying farewell to new friends, and “family” was sobering and extremely difficult, but one could not help but remember a former thought of the meal: “Shoot for the moon, even if you fail, you’ll land among the stars.”
To sum up my experience, on a more personal note, I’d like to share a poem regarding my time at OELC.

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