From Father Gift

How to best view a teenager's school report

Receiving a school report can be exciting or stressful for a student, depending on their performance. When I was in high school, my mother always danced with joy when I made it into the Top 10 academic performers, especially if I ranked second or third. Even though she wished for me to be number one, she was always proud of my best effort. It is with this in mind that I share tips for fruitful conversations with teenagers about their school reports. 

The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) illustrates this well. A master gives his three servants different amounts of gold bags—five to the first, two to the second and one to the third, expecting them to invest while he is away. The first two servants are praised for doubling their gold bags, while the third is reprimanded for burying his and producing nothing. This parable emphasises the importance of effort and growth rather than just outcomes. 

You can have dialogue with your child in the following three areas: First, everyone has a natural talent. Please encourage your children to excel in their strengths, be it academics, sports, or the arts. Athletes like Messi and Ronaldo, as well as artists like Beyoncé and Taylor Swift, demonstrate that success comes in many forms. Second, while high ATAR scores are essential for university paths, they are not the only measure of excellence and indeed there are so many different pathways to university and success in other fields in today's modern world.  If my child scores 60 per cent and says, “Dad, I did my best,” I will celebrate that effort. Praise children for their hard work, regardless of their final score. Ultimately, it is crucial to take responsibility for one’s results. Instead of blaming others for their poor results, please encourage students to review what they did incorrectly and seek improvement. 

Wishing all our students a wonderful holiday.

Fr Gift Makwasha

School Chaplain