Purpose follows where passions lie

BY KRISTY KENDALL Principal

One of the highlights in our school calendar is our High Achievers and Colours Assembly. A time where we invite back those students who have recently graduated from Toorak and have performed in the top 5% of the state in a subject or in their ATAR, and those who have participated at the highest level in every part of school life.

It is a wonderful moment not just to celebrate these students, but for our current Year 7-12 students to hear their stories and pathways. I remarked in our 2022 service that it is fitting that it is called a Colours Assembly as our students’ brilliant array of colours are now shooting off into the world, creating new shades and hues, a moving tapestry beyond our gates.

But what’s important for our younger students to understand is that these students once sat where they are sitting now, and not so long ago. They were unsure about where their path was heading, questioning the purpose of things and worried about what would come next. These are such common themes for young people to ponder upon and when students tell me they don’t know what they want to do next, I always reply, “that is the correct answer”. They certainly have an urgency to have things figured out and they often feel that having things aligned is a determinant of their success. I think the exact opposite may be the case, there is a lot to be said for staying open to opportunities.

What we want for all of our students is for them to lean into their passions. Whether that be dance, maths, their language, climate change or sport. Purpose will follow where your passions lie. What we encourage them to see is that purpose or direction is not about having one thing but a fusion between many aspects of their life. Do they love helping others, are they the sort of person who thrives on direct feedback, do they have wild ideas or do they value their alone time? All of the things they do where they lose track of time, never fail to jump out of bed for, and continue to look forward to are the things to notice about themselves.

While we have a structured and guided Futures program at Toorak College which takes students on an individual journey to evaluate these questions, gain insights and experiences and make informed choices, it is the informal moments that count too.

So value the journey, notice what you love doing, articulate what is important to you and stay true to your sense of self. We, as a school, can’t wait to see what vibrant colours are produced next.