KNOWING YOUR PERSONAL BEST

The Year 12 Leadership Breakfast was hosted on Wednesday 19 February. Each year, students choose a teacher to deliver an inspirational keynote at the breakfast. This year Damian Harrison, Physical Education and Outdoor Education Teacher provided an extract of his speech on unity, support, grit and radiance. As a PE Teacher and Sport Coach I have had the pleasure and good fortune of witnessing students outside the classroom in competitive situations. This has allowed me to see the admirable character and determination in these students. Sometimes it is the students who don’t cross the line first, or score the goals, that are the most visible. This is because they experience success through the act of competition itself. They need no badge, title or fanfare. They are the sturdy support holding up what everyone else can see. I see unity, support, grit and radiance. A poem for the Class of 2020:

I See I see potential, endless and limitless, I see strength and struggle I see support, care and thoughtfulness. I see smiles and participation I see grit and determination.

In the Olympics, be sure to pay attention to the medal presentation ceremonies. Ofthe three athletes on the dais, you can be assured of seeing two big smiles; however, they are generally the faces of the winner and the third placegetter. The winner is beaming because they have achieved their goal of winning an Olympic gold medal. The third placegetter is thrilled because they received a bronze medal, and had they been fourth, they would have received nothing. However, the athlete who came second often finds little joy in what most of us would regard as an amazing achievement. This is because they can be consumed by ‘what ifs?’ Did their rhythm stay true, did they hold form properly, was their start perfect? All the tiny things that may have contributed towards them missing out on first place by a fraction of a second. Sorather than thinking about the things that went right for them to get second place (and often achieving their personal best), they focus on what went wrong to miss out on first place. They might even blame the coaches. In sport, coaches are process focused; outcomes are not absolute due to external variables. You can only control what you bring to the competition. But if the process is consistently practised and believed in, the outcome – whatever it may be – will be more accepted if you trust in and follow the process. Your teachers set these processes for you. You have to commit and believe in their work and formula to get the most out of you. So, if you study consistently, use your time wisely and give the year your absolute best, would you choose to see a silver as disappointing, or something to be proud of? I urge you to trust the process, enjoy your time in the Ruyton community, work hard, play hard, be mindful and forgiving of yourself and others, and go and shine with unity and radiance.