Character

This might run contrary to accepted wisdom. It seems counter intuitive. And yet upon reflection, it rings true. All of the little moments are preparations for the bigger ones. The way we manage the small irritations and inconveniences will prepare us for how we manage when big things arise.

Brook goes on to say:

“Someday, in years to come, you will be wrestling with great temptation, or trembling under great sorrow. But the real struggle is now… Now it is being decided whether, in the day of great sorrow or temptation, you shall fail or conquer. Character cannot be made except by a steady, long-continued process.”

It was good to speak with Years 10-12 recently and talk about how well they are managing the small moments, the way that they are setting an example, overcoming minor irritations or inconveniences to get to the things of greater consequence. Their daily approach will, in time, compound into the depth of character that makes a significant difference.

We often hear stories of the unthinking hero – the person who throws themselves into a situation almost before they realise what is happening and, sometimes afterwards, can’t quite believe that they did. It’s not that they have faced hundreds of life and death situations. It’s more likely that they have taken their daily approach of looking out for and caring for others and applied it in a momentous situation.

We all face choices and challenges every day. Very rarely are they life or death, very rarely are they great moments, but each and every day, the challenges that we face and the choices we make continue to shape us into the people that we become. Again, I want to congratulate our students on the way that they are doing this as the 2025 school year gets into full swing.

Tim Watson
Principal