From the Principal 

Sincerity and Taylor Swift Fever Come to Loreto Marryatville

Below is part of my address to the Senior School students during their assembly this week. 

Sincerity is not a word that is regularly used, but the sentiment is one what we all value.   Often, we wear masks or false pretences to prevent others from seeing our real self.  Often, we forget our kindness and enter conversations with dishonesty, because words give us power and sometimes perceived popularity.

My challenge for you this year is to recognise that hiding behind unkind words is easy.  Sincerity is the greater challenge. If you are a Swiftie, you will probably remember how easily and impulsively Kanye West was as he interrupted Taylor Swift’s Video Music Awards speech in 2009.

A few days later, on the Jay Leno show, it took Kanye awkward stutters, silences, and tears to acknowledge his hurtful words. Honesty, respect, and sincerity take hard work and commitment. Psychology studies tell us that our brains are wired toward negativity, both to give it and to remember it, to dwell on these events and the negative experiences. This psychological phenomenon explains why bad first impressions can be so difficult to overcome and why past traumas can have such long lingering effects. In almost any interaction, we are more likely to notice negative things and later remember them more vividly.

The test for us all is to, firstly, think about the words we use, always delivering them with genuine sincerity and authentic kindness. Secondly, should you find yourself starting to pay attention to the type of negative thoughts that run through your mind, a better tactic is to stop those thoughts whenever they begin. Instead of fixating on past mistakes that cannot be changed, consider what you have learned or remember all the good in you and how you might apply it in the future. 

In the words of Taylor Swift herself, “As the first woman to win Album of the Year at the Grammys twice, I want to say to all the young women out there, there are going to be people along the way who are going to try to undercut your success, or take credit for your accomplishments or fame, but you just focus on your words, and you don't let those people sidetrack you.”

Taylor Swift’s multi-platinum hit “Shake it off” references her critics, and how she doesn't care what people say about her because she's going to "shake it off". Swift never really explains what shaking it off entails, but I guess it has a lot to do with solo dance parties and baking her feelings. The song calls out all the people who have ever said an unkind word.  Wanting us to remember that its cool being the only one dancing or to have a particular opinion, Taylor doesn't care if anyone makes fun of her, because she knows and understands her true self and is determined to own it. Being authentic and true to ourselves is the foundation for our own self honesty…our own self-sincerity. Always, remembering Mary Ward’s words that ‘we be such as we appear and appear such as we are’ 

In this apex of Australian Taylor Swift fever, I invited all students and staff to stand up and in a physical gesture to this commitment to deliver our words with kindness and sincerity, aim to shake off any unkindness directed our way with a “Shake It Off” dance.

Continued good wishes for the Term.

Ms Kylie McCullah

Principal