Brentwood College School - Review #10

Walking into Brentwood in 2020 as a shy, nervous 14-year-old, I didn’t know the scale of what I would become part of. What’s unique about Brentwood is that it doesn’t just ask you to be good academically or in sport, it nurtures grit and joy together. The tripartite structure (academics, athletics, arts) is there in theory at many schools, but at Brentwood it feels alive. When you’re doing well on a test, then heading to volleyball, then preparing a piece for art or public speaking, the school supports all of that. Also, the sense of belonging created by the house system, by the staff, and by peers is something I still treasure. Teachers like Ms. Cheung, Ms. Nasmith, Mr. Robinson, Ms. Manton and the leadership from Mr. Patel, they made sure the community was more than just walls and schedules. From the first “Melhuish speech” (that voice shaking, that stutter) to my final address as Head Prefect, I saw growth in myself that I didn’t believe possible.

Best thing: Becoming Head Prefect and giving speeches in front of people. Growing from that shaking-voice Melhuish speech to being trusted to address the full school at the end of my grade 12 year was something I didn’t imagine I could do. I grew more than I thought possible: confidence, empathy, leadership, resilience.

If I could go back I would take more risks earlier, audition for plays, join debate sooner, speak up more in class even when I felt I had nothing perfect to say. Advice for new students is let awkwardness be part of your story. Embrace that you're going to feel out of place sometimes, it’s in those moments you grow. Ask for help, lean on people, show up even when you’re tired.

What I love most is that Brentwood taught me that excellence doesn’t mean perfection, and that community can carry you through. It’s the people like Ms. Cheung, Ms. Nasmith, Mr. Robinson, Ms. Manton, Mr. Patel and the friends, the nights, the challenges.

If you're walking onto Brentwood’s campus as a new student, remember: your first few days will feel big, confusing, exciting, scary, all of it. Give yourself time. Smile first; reach out. Try something you’ve never done. And don’t forget: trying matters more than being perfect. Also, find your “corner” of campus, for me, it was the morning meetings with Mr. Patel, and the common room after evening practices. Those little places will become anchors.

Brentwood’s academic rigor is real. I took on Advanced Placement and challenging courses, and they pushed me, sometimes to the edge, but always with a lifeline: teachers who stayed late, mentors who listened, peers who encouraged. One of the strongest memories I have is studying outside under a cloudy sky, flipping through textbooks, with others beside me doing the same. Dr. Patel’s guidance, Ms. Cheung’s feedback, Ms. Manton’s encouragement, these people helped me chase excellence, not perfection. It prepared me for university in ways I didn’t anticipate: managing my time, staying curious even when things got hard, asking for help.

I wasn’t always the star athlete, but I gave my best. Competing in volleyball and basketball taught me discipline, early morning conditioning, late-night practices, games in the rain or cold. My teammates, you know who you are and coaches pushed each other, held each other up, celebrated wins and losses, always believing the process mattered. Winning wasn’t everything; showing up, giving effort, getting back up after a loss were what built character in me.

Arts were a space to breathe when other parts of school felt intense. Participating in school plays, watching others shine on stage, being part of Airband, even just attending performances, gave me perspective and relief. I wasn’t always performing, but being there seeing friends build something, hearing applause, feeling that shared excitement meant a lot. Also, creative assignments in class pushed me to think differently, see things from others’ eyes.

Extra-curricular was never just “something to do”; it was where I found voice. Being part of Student Executive Council, helping plan events like Service Day, Eco-Challenge, being involved in environmental initiatives, working with peers to raise awareness… all these helped me feel that I could contribute. Volunteering hours at SPCA (for those of us who love animals), helping organize school-wide events, these weren’t little extras; they shaped me.

Though I was a day student living in homestay, I got involved heavily in residence events and late evenings on campus. I remember staying late for debate or leadership meetings, walking through the dorm corridors after practice, hearing laughter, catching midnight study group whispers. Those moments made me feel part of something bigger. And during weekends or early mornings, there was always someone to talk to, dorm parents or friends , which mattered when homesickness crept in.

The dining hall is where stories were shared. After classes, after sports, after arts, meals were a decompress space. I’ll never forget laughing with friends over dinner about MT (Mountain Training), about who messed up their presentation, who scored that unexpected basket. The food was solid , always diverse, warm, comforting. It was in those shared meals that I felt seen and grounded.

Mill Bay is beautiful, and Brentwood’s location pulls in nature’s rhythm. The ocean, the trees, the air all got to me. Walks after dinner along the shore helped reset my head when academic stress piled up. Trips to Victoria, or small excursions to local coffee shops and shops helped remind me life outside school was richer and important.

Social life was messy in the best way. There were highs like Spirit Week, parties, games, cheering at Regatta, laughing in common rooms and there were lows such as homesickness, awkward first days, the stress of exams. But everyone was going through their own version of that. What was beautiful is how people rallied: friends, teachers, prefects. I remember Ms. Cheung checking on me after a particularly bad test, my dorm mates sharing snacks and encouragement, feeling small moments of joy, like Spikeball matches even when rain tried to ruin the courts.