Deputy Principal

Seeds of Greatness

This week, our Year 11 students had the opportunity to hear from Glen Gerryn from the Hopefull Institute. With more than 25 years as a business leader and communicator, Glen brought a message that was both challenging and encouraging — one that I think is worth sharing with our whole school community.

At the heart of his message was a simple idea: none of us comes into the world without something to offer.

Glen described these as our Seeds of Greatness — the talents, strengths, passions and natural ways of thinking and behaving that can be developed and put to good use. He challenged students to look beyond what might be going wrong and instead ask, “What is strong in me?”

But having a seed is not enough. It needs to be cultivated.

Glen encouraged students to think about their own lives as a garden, offering five practical reminders:

Plant it in good soil.

Our environment matters. The people we surround ourselves with, the choices we make and the habits we establish all influence what grows. Glen made an important distinction between turning up and showing up. Commitment is more than simply being present. Sometimes the answer isn't to try harder, but to try differently.

Water the seed.

Our strengths grow through practice. We train, rehearse, study and keep going. Glen also challenged students to be careful about comparison. Constantly comparing ourselves with others can diminish our sense of worth. The goal is not to become someone else, but to develop what is already within us.

Pull out the weeds.

We all have thoughts, habits and doubts that can get in the way. Glen encouraged students to “weed the garden of your mind” every day. He reminded them not to mistake the walls of their comfort zone for the boundaries of their ability.

Respect the season.

Year 11 and Year 12 will have highs and lows. There will be moments when the work feels relentless, when results don't improve as quickly as hoped, or when the future feels uncertain. But this is a season — and seasons change. There is hope when you know things will end, and when there is hope in your future, there is power in your presence.

And finally, enjoy it.

Amid the pressure, expectations and preparation for what comes next, students were reminded not to miss the experience of being where they are now.

Perhaps the most powerful part of Glen's message was that success is not about waiting for motivation. **Motivation comes and goes. Commitment is what matters.** Consistency beats intensity. Master the art of showing up and optimise later. Take the next step. Then take another.

His challenge to students was to turn inspiration into action. Create a vision board. Identify a goal — an ATAR, a TAFE course, a career, a personal ambition or simply a direction for the future. Don't just say “one day, when…” Begin to identify your “one day win”.

Because, as Glen reminded them: you don't change your life by changing your life. You change your life by changing your focus.

There was another message I particularly hope our students carry with them: to shrink your problems, grow your purpose.

As a school community, we want our young people to leave us with more than qualifications. We want them to know their strengths, recognise their gifts, understand that setbacks are part of growth and have the courage to pursue a future that is meaningful to them.

They do not need to have everything figured out yet. But they do need to take action.

Start now. Plant the seed. Water it. Pull out the weeds. Respect the season. And enjoy watching what grows.

Most importantly, Glen left our Year 11 students with a message they may need to hear more than once as they move towards their final years of school and beyond: You are more than enough.

Ms. Simone Roche

Deputy Principal – Teaching and Learning