LEADING WITH INTENTION HOW CATHEDRAL BOYS BECOME LEADERS OUR WORLD NEEDS HABITS OF LEADERSHIP
by Lukas Rahlson, Director of Upper School
WHEN PEOPLE HEAR “LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT,” they often picture one of two things: a student with a title or a single culminating experience, something that happens at the end of a journey. At Cathedral School for Boys, we see it differently. Leadership is not something you stumble into once you’ve reached the top. It’s something you practice. It’s something you grow into. It’s something you carry and share with intention.
I’ve worked in boys’ education for over a decade, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that boys need structure and support to develop as leaders. They need opportunities to try, to fail, to reflect, and to try again, always within a community that knows them well. That’s what Cathedral School offers. That’s what sets us apart. In the Lower School, leadership begins with voice. Boys learn to speak clearly, to listen actively, and to take responsibility for themselves and their community. Whether it’s leading the line, sharing during Morning Meeting, or supporting a classmate in Chapel, these daily moments build a foundation of trust, care, and self-awareness. We also believe that real leadership emerges when boys are pushed out of their comfort zones. As they grow, we expand the scope of their leadership experiences. That’s where Outdoor Ed comes in. In Grade 4 , boys get their first taste of immersive outdoor education. They travel to
Pinnacles National Park, where they learn to set up camp, cook for a crowd, build fires with flint and steel, and sleep under the stars. They hike through caves, identify birds, rock climb, and reflect on their role in the group. As their guides told us this past spring, this class demonstrated exceptional teamwork, curiosity, and leadership potential. These are
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CATHEDRAL SCHOOL FOR BOYS
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