This year has been an exciting year filled with many fantastic opportunities and milestone events for our students.
One of the most significant events and milestones for our student is the completion of their schooling with Year 12 graduation. At the beginning of this term, we had the privilege of celebrating with our Year 12s at a number of significant events, including the formal graduation ceremony. During the ceremony, I took the opportunity to share a few final words of encouragement as the students move on to their next chapter.
- Dream big and set goals - Goals help to give us a sense of direction, something to strive towards and a measuring post of how we are going. However, often, as we grow, our dreams, goals and aspirations also grow and change. Dream boldly and pursue your goals with passion, knowing that with God, all things are possible. But also, don't be afraid to adjust your goals and set course for a new dream.
- Attempt new things and don't be afraid of failure - failure is not the end—it's simply part of the journey to success. Don't let failure hold us back; what matters most is the effort we put in, not whether we succeed every time. Every setback has the potential to be a step toward success, giving us valuable lessons and experiences that strengthen us for future challenges. When we embrace both our successes and failures, we grow in resilience and wisdom.
- Always show love and compassion - Be compassionate in all you do, and let your daily interactions begin with a smile. True strength lies not in overpowering others but in building bridges, understanding different perspectives, and showing compassion to those around us. Use each interaction is a chance to bring light into someone's life. Whether through a smile, a kind word, or a simple act of generosity, you have the power to make a positive impact.
The Bible reminds us in Ephesians 4:32, "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."
As we draw closer to the end of the year, let the words shared with the Year 12 students remind us all to dream big, not be afraid to attempt new things and always show love and compassion to those around us.