A year in review: Victoria Kelleher

A year in review

Victoria Kelleher Head of Secondary School

Students often find great amusement in asking me to include words or phrases that they, GenZ like to use, words like ‘slay’ or ‘bussin’ or my favourite, ‘it’s a vibe’. Of course, I indulge them, and I am never sure whether it is my GenX self, or my Irish accent, that makes it funnier than it should be. If I am honest, most of the time I need to Google the reference to understand what it is I am saying. When I googled the word ‘vibe’ or the phrase ‘it’s a vibe’, implying the mood of a place, situation, person, etc. and the way that they/it makes you feel, I couldn’t help but relate, especially as I reflect on my first year at Penrhos College.

Of course, us Boomers, GenX and Millennials can relate to the history of ‘vibe’. The 1960s brought us the notion of ‘vibrations’ in the 1966 Beach Boys song “Good Vibrations”. Although the current cultural moment of the vibe is inextricably linked to TikTok, where qualifying something with a vibe really means describing something with positive moments of connection.

To put all of this in context, a vibe is more toned down than a buzz, but more pervasive than an ambience! Being familiar to a ‘vibe’ involves being part of a shared reality, a shared environment. A vibe, in a situation where all elements align positively, creates a feeling of connection to one’s environment, a sense of belonging. Penrhos, and the people who make up our community; our students, our staff, and our families, all contribute to our sense of belonging to the College, and our sense of belonging is key to our positive relationship to this environment.

Over the past year, I have seen how Penrhos offers our girls multiple pathways to promote wellbeing, elevates a focus on personal challenge and growth, and creates opportunities for adventure, contributing to our connection to our environment.

So, how important is the environment? And, more importantly for this discussion, how important is the school environment and the complex system of relationships that exist within this environment. Rather than ground my argument on the research of Vygotsky, Bandura, or Bronfenbrenner, who all theorised the environment is explicitly or implicitly considered as a crucial process in human development, I have decided to base my analysis on a goldfish instead.

Goldfish, scientifically known as Carassius Auratus, are an interesting species. When put in a small bowl, a goldfish stays small, growing to about 2 to 3 inches at best. However, goldfish will naturally grow to a large size when they are put in the right conditions. These conditions include plenty of pond or tank space, good water quality, warm water temperatures, and access to nutritious food. When put in the right conditions, goldfish can grow up to 18 inches, almost six times their average size.

How does this happen?

Goldfish are what scientists call “indeterminate growers” which means they have an infinite capacity for growth. When properly cared for and placed in the right environment, they have the capacity to continue growing until they die and get flushed down the toilet. The goldfish grows according to the environment it finds itself in. Humans are much the same. If we operate in a safe environment without risk or competition, we only evolve to be as big as a little goldfish.

And what a missed opportunity that would be because we are endowed with a similar ability to experience continuous growth throughout our lives. Physically, most humans stop growing sometime during their adolescent years (usually between 15-20 years old), but our ability to learn, adapt, and acquire new skills is indefinite.

If we take on new challenges, explore new opportunities, engage with smarter people, a bit like a goldfish going into a bigger pond, we naturally expand and live a bigger life. Nelson Mandela said, “There is no passion to be found, playing small and settling for a life that’s less than the one you’re capable of living.” This past year, I have experienced an environment where our girls are encouraged to make bold choices and step outside of their comfort zone. A place that challenges them to rise to the occasion of their potential and celebrates and supports them along the way. Somewhere that gives our girls all that they need to become the best version of themselves. Where, just like goldfish, they have been properly cared for in the right environment.

My first year at Penrhos College has come and gone and there have been far too many highlights for me to list here. I will say, I consider my role as Head of Secondary School to be a privilege and, this year, Penrhos has given me a wonderful opportunity to grow and learn in the right environment. When I reflect on my first year at Penrhos College, and the wonderful environment I get to be part of, the only phrase that encompasses the positive experiences and connections that I have seen, and more importantly, that I feel is, ‘Penrhos is a vibe!’