How to Be a Good Prefect

This article was co-authored by Alicia Oglesby and by wikiHow staff writer, Kyle Hall. Alicia Oglesby is a Professional School Counselor and the Director of School and College Counseling at Bishop McNamara High School outside of Washington DC. With over ten years of experience in counseling, Alicia specializes in academic advising, social-emotional skills, and career counseling. Alicia holds a BS in Psychology from Howard University and a Master’s in Clinical Counseling and Applied Psychology from Chestnut Hill College. She also studied Race and Mental Health at Virginia Tech. Alicia holds Professional School Counseling Certifications in both Washington DC and Pennsylvania. She has created a college counseling program in its entirety and developed five programs focused on application workshops, parent information workshops, essay writing collaborative, peer-reviewed application activities, and financial aid literacy events.

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If you've applied to be a prefect at your school, or you're already serving as one, you might be wondering how to be the best prefect. To be a good prefect, it's important to remember that your role is to help both the faculty and the students at your school. By setting a good example for students, following your school's rules, and being there when people need you, you can ensure that you're successfully fulfilling all your duties as a prefect.

Setting a Good Example

• For example, if your fellow students are complaining because the upcoming dance got cancelled, instead of complaining with them, you could say something positive like, "I know it's upsetting that the dance is cancelled, but we should all get together and think of something else we could do for fun that night."

Be respectful to others. Whether you're interacting with another student, a teacher, or a member of the school faculty, be respectful. Other students will be looking to you to see what’s acceptable behavior, so set a good example for them. [1] X Expert Source

Alicia Oglesby
Professional School Counselor Expert Interview. 13 April 2021. As a prefect, if you’re disrespectful to someone, chances are that other students will think it’s OK to act the same way.

Do your best in school. Participate in class and hand in your homework on time. If you’re struggling with a subject, talk to your teacher, or get help from a tutor. Other students will notice the effort you’re putting into your schoolwork. [2] X Research source

Be honest. Don’t lie to students or your teachers, and don't make-up excuses. If you forgot to do your homework, tell the truth. Show students that being honest, even when you're afraid of the consequences, is better than lying. [3] X Research source

Following the Rules

Abide by your school’s dress code. If your school has a uniform, make sure you wear it to school every day and it’s clean and wrinkle-free. If your school doesn’t have a uniform, you still want to dress in a clean and respectable manner. Read your school’s official dress code so you can avoid accidentally violating it.

Have a good attendance record. Avoid unexcused absences and try to limit the days you miss school for being sick. [4] X Research source Not only does missing school look bad on your part, it also prevents you from fulfilling your prefect duties.

Go to class on time. Other students will notice if you’re frequently coming to class late, so set a good example and arrive to class on time. If you have a genuine reason for being late, make sure you get a note and hand it to your teacher when you arrive to class.

Be where you’re supposed to be. Don't hang out in the hallway or leave school grounds when you're supposed to be doing something else. As a prefect you should be available and easy to find if students or faculty need you. If you're attending boarding school, make sure you're in your dormitory when you're supposed to be so that students can come to you if they need anything.

Being There for Students

Be approachable and welcoming. Smile and say hello to students when you pass them in the halls, and try to be as friendly as possible when you’re talking to them. Avoid things that make you look distracted or busy, like looking down at your phone all the time or always having your face buried in a book.

Be a good communicator. [5] X Expert Source

Alicia Oglesby
Professional School Counselor Expert Interview. 13 April 2021. Communicate with students so you have a better sense of how they’re doing and what kind of help they could benefit from. If a student raises concerns to you, convey those concerns to the faculty. As a prefect you are the bridge between the students and faculty, so make sure you’re communicating with both sides so everyone’s voice is heard. [6] X Research source

Be sensitive to students’ problems. If a student is having a hard time with their classes or they’re struggling to make friends, support them, and offer to help. Don’t tease students or talk about them negatively with your friends. If a student confides in you, you should never share that information with anyone else, unless it’s something serious that needs to be reported to a faculty member.

Alicia Oglesby is a Professional School Counselor and the Director of School and College Counseling at Bishop McNamara High School outside of Washington DC. With over ten years of experience in counseling, Alicia specializes in academic advising, social-emotional skills, and career counseling. Alicia holds a BS in Psychology from Howard University and a Master’s in Clinical Counseling and Applied Psychology from Chestnut Hill College. She also studied Race and Mental Health at Virginia Tech. Alicia holds Professional School Counseling Certifications in both Washington DC and Pennsylvania. She has created a college counseling program in its entirety and developed five programs focused on application workshops, parent information workshops, essay writing collaborative, peer-reviewed application activities, and financial aid literacy events.

Compassion is a sign of a thoughtful role model. Show you can be a thoughtful role model for others by demonstrating compassion, curiosity about the world, awareness of different viewpoints, and responsibility in following through on duties. Be solution-oriented and lead by mature example.

Be fair. Don’t choose favorites or target those you don’t like among the student body. Set aside your personal opinions so you can treat all students fairly and equally. Let your friends know they shouldn’t expect special treatment from you, and don't be afraid to report your friends for bad behavior. [7] X Research source

Expert Q&A

Alicia Oglesby is a Professional School Counselor and the Director of School and College Counseling at Bishop McNamara High School outside of Washington DC. With over ten years of experience in counseling, Alicia specializes in academic advising, social-emotional skills, and career counseling. Alicia holds a BS in Psychology from Howard University and a Master’s in Clinical Counseling and Applied Psychology from Chestnut Hill College. She also studied Race and Mental Health at Virginia Tech. Alicia holds Professional School Counseling Certifications in both Washington DC and Pennsylvania. She has created a college counseling program in its entirety and developed five programs focused on application workshops, parent information workshops, essay writing collaborative, peer-reviewed application activities, and financial aid literacy events.

In order to set a good example for students around you, you’d have to demonstrate the type of character that exemplifies compassion, curiosity, awareness and follow-through. I mention these traits because students who are often selected as leaders within the school demonstrate these characteristics. Compassion is a way students connect to other human beings and patiently understand the differences between people while also respecting those differences in a way that does not dehumanize others. Curiosity is a wonderful characteristic that shows educators how students engage with their learning. Curiosity also means students are willing and open to always learning more. Awareness is indicative of social understanding. Students who demonstrate awareness of differences, cultures and the diversity of human beings are more inclined to work with any other student or adult in the school. I think follow-through shows maturity. When selecting student leaders, I want to work with students who can complete tasks or at least communicate with others in a way that completion of tasks and responsibilities is a priority. Students should learn how to identify needs and create solutions to meet those needs, whatever they might be.

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