Rupert Douglass School Captain 2020

Fear, especially fear of judgment and failure are normal. Yet, your time at King’s is the ideal time to overcome these fears and make the move outside the comfortable boundaries we set for ourselves. If you fail, it won’t be the end of the road, but the start of another journey as you learn and improve.

I was recently given a book by Paul Arden titled It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want To Be. In this book, I learned we ourselves shouldn’t seek praise from others for what we are already doing as it’s easy to get approval if we ask enough of it. Sometimes we seek praise for fulfilling our basic requirements – getting our names marked off and simply attending our six periods. For some this is enough – but not for Kingsmen. Rather we should push ourselves into new areas and understand that failing is ok. It’s not the failures that inevitably occur but how you respond to these failures that matters. Do we give up? Or do we put our heads down, work quietly and come back stronger than before?

When I joined debating earlier this year, I feared I would fail. I would get up to speak and freeze - and for those who witnessed my first speech, it wasn’t great. After a brief prep time, I barely had anything written on my page and when I stood up, I stuttered throughout. I truly felt out of my depth and I didn’t know what I was doing. However, if I had never taken that step, I don’t know how I would be here as School Captain giving numerous speeches to the King’s community. When you think you can’t do something, that is exactly the reason to do it because it’s the person who doesn’t make mistakes who doesn’t make anything.

There is no one version of what we have to be, our differences are what makes us King’s.

My aspiration is that over the next year each each and every student feels encouraged to be better themselves by further immersing themselves into the academic and character-building aspects of King’s. That they venture into something they haven’t done before, to push yourself towards something that challenges and excites you each week. All the while knowing that doing so you will be supported by this inclusive community. I challenge all my peers to test yourself, to go out and try new things and see where you end up. King’s offers an immense amount of extra-curricular opportunities suitable for just about any interest or passion. Deciding on a new area of involvement shouldn’t be about what your peers are doing or what activity you believe is supported widely on campus. In the year ahead, I would like to see stigmas broken down and the School community continuing to recognise those who have earned it, whether it be the boys in the rugby 1st XV or those in the Chess Club.

If you wanted to improve your confidence and public speaking, join the musical or debating. If you wanted to improve your fitness join athletics. If you are from the city, expose yourself to something new and join Ag Club or shooting. Or if you are struggling in your studies, then go to the tutors in the Centre for Learning and Leadership. As cliché as it may be, the only thing stopping you is yourself.

King’s Inclusive Community

How can we as Kingsmen work together to further our contributions to the community?

Wearing the uniform means you go to King’s but it doesn’t make you a Kingsman. What makes you a Kingsman is your ability to apply the King’s values. It means standing up when someone enters the room, looking someone in the eye and giving them a firm handshake, applauding and thanking the opposition despite the result of the game. A Kingsman has the ability to look beyond his own world and empathise with those who may be struggling. It is always being conscious of how we can make the lives of those in society better. It’s imperative that we don’t just talk about our values but actually put them into meaningful community action that isn’t predicted on the expectation of a reward for our contribution.

Wouldn’t it be amazing if we ran more King’s charity events that brought together parents, Old Boys, siblings and anyone else who wants to come along? If we continued to contribute to drought relief, medical research or teenage mental health? It is important to acknowledge that there are no limitations to who can help. It doesn’t matter how old you are or if you are a Monitor. Go out and do some volunteering work – we’ve had boys involved in the Sony Foundation which works with young Australians suffering from severe illnesses, disability and homelessness. We’ve had boys on their own accord recently go on a mission trip to India, donating sporting equipment and working in underprivileged schools. We’ve got many boys here who volunteer in surf lifesaving, and boys who have worked with “Kids Giving Back” cooking for homeless people.

Kingsmen are also encouraged to participate in small acts of kindness that don’t involve much of your time, but still impact the lives of others. If you see someone struggling to carry something, go offer to help. Ask someone if they are ok? Give up your seat on the bus, donate your old clothes or books, or be conscious of saving water next time you have a shower. We should all be doing our bit to be better citizens.

Closing Notes

Having leadership pins does not make you immune to failure. If anything, as Mr George said at the Commissioning, it actually opens you up to a lot more vulnerability and scrutiny. Please know that the whole monitorial team is extremely committed and part of what we want to do next year is to be more visible to the students, with more appearances to inform you of what we’re doing and how you can help us fulfil our roles. Come tell us your ideas or thoughts about things you would like to improve around the School. We are here to lead you.

I want you to know that I am nervous. I am nervous because of the expectation of living up to what previous boys in my position have achieved before me. I am nervous because I am about to go into the busiest year of my life so far and have heard so much about this “ATAR thing”, but now am actually having to undertake it. However, the reality is that we are simply a small part of a long relay here at King’s, that has now been handed to us. We should all be doing as much as we can to help further shape King’s in a positive direction for future boys who pass through these gates. Regardless of whether we have succeeded or failed at the end of our sprint, I know that we will all be proud to be Kingsmen.