Middle Years

On my office wall is a copy of an article titled “The Long Days.” It was published in the 2013 MUMC journal and was written by an old friend of mine, Stuart Hollaway, with the main thrust of the article being about long days in the mountains and how they are both uncomfortable and horrific, but they are also pure joy. I deliberately have this article up, so it catches my eye, firstly to remind me of Stu, but it also reminds me that things that seem hard and uncomfortable also give us a special feeling of satisfaction and joy once they are completed and accomplished. 

I’ve seen this in our Middle Years students, worrying about an upcoming camp, test or exam.  But last week this was most notable with Middle Years students being nervous about the musical. Once the musical began, the enjoyment started, and there was a real sense of satisfaction and joy after the successful performances. 

In the article, Stuart writes, “the long days are as attractive as they are appalling.” 

Doing things that are hard are often appallingly uncomfortable, and yet taking on the challenge is great fun, and it shows us what we can both accomplish and endure. Congratulations to all of the Middle Years students involved in Chicago - I hope you are able to reflect upon the experience, and the idea of the 2027 musical is already tempting you.    

Reminders about some upcoming challenges for the Middle Years students: 

Year 8 Camp - 7 to 11 September

Year 9 Vietnam 

Group 1 departs - 8 September  

Group 2 departs - 13 September 

 Dr Ben Hawthorne

Head of Middle Years