Ridley College - Review #2

Ridley's basketball program was exceptional and central to my experience there. The opportunity to both captain the Prep Basketball Team and assistant coach the U14 team in just two years gave me leadership experience from multiple angles. The business courses aligned perfectly with my entrepreneurial interests since I had already co-founded Lost Disciples, my clothing brand, at 16. Teachers understood that some students were building real ventures and encouraged that initiative. The house system through Merritt made integrating as a grade 11 boarding student much easier than expected. Coming from Toronto, I appreciated how Ridley balanced strong academics with serious athletic commitment.

The best thing was the leadership experience from captaining the Prep Basketball Team and coaching the U14 team simultaneously. That combination taught me how to lead from different positions and developed skills I'm using now at Bishop's as a varsity player. Making honour roll both years while maintaining heavy basketball commitments was an achievement I'm proud of. The business courses connected directly to Lost Disciples and helped me think more strategically about my brand. The independence I gained from boarding prepared me well for university life.

Maybe I would have explored one or two other activities beyond basketball, but my focus served me well. My advice is to get involved with your house immediately because that's where you'll find community fast. If you're an athlete, commit fully because the programs are strong. Take advantage of business courses if you're entrepreneurial. Don't stress about coming in later like I did in grade 11 because people are welcoming. Put yourself out there socially early on.

The combination of the basketball program and business courses aligned perfectly with my goals. Being captain and assistant coach simultaneously developed leadership skills that matter now at Bishop's. The business education connected to my clothing brand and gave me frameworks I use constantly. Merritt house provided community that made boarding life positive. The two years at Ridley prepared me well for being a student athlete at the university level and studying entrepreneurship.

Jump into Merritt or whichever house you're in right away. The basketball program is excellent if you're serious about the sport. Business courses are practical if you're entrepreneurial. Don't be intimidated about starting later like grade 11 because integration is easier than you think. Balance your commitments but don't be afraid to go deep on what matters most to you. The experience will prepare you well for whatever comes next.

The business courses were directly relevant to my interests and my clothing brand. Teachers connected concepts to real world applications rather than just theory, which helped me think more strategically about entrepreneurship and sales. The workload was challenging but manageable even with heavy basketball commitments. I made honour roll both years which required solid time management. The academic culture encouraged collaboration among students. The business foundation I got at Ridley has been valuable at Bishop's University where I'm studying entrepreneurship at the Williams School of Business now.

The basketball program was outstanding. Being captain of the Prep team taught me leadership under pressure and how to motivate teammates. The coaching staff was knowledgeable and pushed us to improve constantly. What made it special was also coaching the U14 team as an assistant. Teaching younger players while still competing myself developed my leadership and communication skills significantly. The facilities were solid with good court access. The school genuinely supported student athletes and understood the time commitment required. The athletic experience at Ridley prepared me well for playing varsity basketball at Bishop's on scholarship.

I wasn't personally involved in the arts programs since basketball consumed most of my time. From what I observed, the arts had their own community and the school seemed to support them alongside athletics. Friends involved in music or theatre appeared engaged. Ridley tried to be balanced rather than just focusing on one area, which meant arts students had opportunities to pursue their interests seriously.

Basketball was my primary extracurricular focus both as captain and assistant coach. Beyond that, the house system through Merritt created automatic involvement with house activities and competitions. There were other clubs and organizations available, though I didn't participate extensively given my basketball commitments. The school encouraged involvement but understood that some students focused deeply on specific areas. The extracurricular scene allowed flexibility in how you engaged.

Starting boarding in grade 11 from Toronto was a significant change, but Merritt house made the adjustment smoother. The community there became tight quickly, and those friendships were meaningful. Dorm life taught me independence and time management, which has been useful at university. Having teammates and friends constantly around created bonding through shared experiences. The dorm setup was comfortable and the staff were supportive when needed. Overall the boarding experience was positive and prepared me well for living independently at Bishop's.

The dining hall had set meal times which created routine and social opportunities. The food was decent, nothing extraordinary but reliable. There was enough variety to find something you liked most days. Meals became social time where you caught up with teammates and friends from different houses. Overall it served its purpose and kept everyone fed.

St. Catharines was fine, though coming from Toronto it felt quieter and smaller. There were adequate shops and restaurants nearby when we had time off campus. The area felt safe. Most of my time was spent on campus because of basketball and academics. The location worked for the boarding school experience and being somewhat close to Toronto meant I could get home when needed.

I found it easy to make friends at Ridley, particularly through basketball and Merritt house. The social integration as a new grade 11 student was smoother than expected. The basketball community was tight and supportive. Students came from diverse backgrounds which made for interesting connections. The social scene felt welcoming and healthy overall. Weekends had activities and hangouts. The friendships I built have continued beyond graduation.