The first week has flown by here at RCEC, and all of the events share a similar theme. Whether it’s the Senior Parade, Color Drafting, or even parts of Awards Day, there’s one thing that has remained the same since RCEC was founded. This one thing has tied us together, something that every person has contributed to whether they know it or not. RCEC is Student-Led.
Student Involvement is what makes River City what it is. The student voice is so loud, that even the quietest whisper can be turned into an environment changing idea. When walking down the hallways at RCEC ideas seem to pop out at you. Whether that’s through a poster, overhearing conversations, or seeing someone have an ever so common meeting with a teacher to give a pitch, our ideas are always churning out to be real and needed additions to the school.
Oscar Wilde once said, “An idea that is not dangerous is unworthy of being called an idea at all.” Wilde was known for challenging societal norms and being extremely ahead of his time. He didn’t live to see some of his most famous plays performed, but this just goes to show the lasting impact of a simple idea. Now no one’s ideas have been necessarily dangerous here, but trying something new is the basis of how our school was founded. Dr. Tammy Burris Smith was the first principal of RCEC. Even after leaving the school to become a professor at Belhaven University, her ideas still impact the way our school functions. Like Wilde, her ideas have stayed present after her leave, and even an award has been named after her and given every year.
Ideas create impact, and since our school has let the students take the reigns, involvement is the key to our success. Find what you like to do. Find what you’re good at. Sign up and volunteer. All of these help our school flourish, but the most important thing is this. Come up with ideas and let your ideas be known. Be bold and be talented. Allow yourself to contribute and create your own environment. An idea is never a waste of time, but letting one go without a second thought might be.