From the Principal

Who rather than what!

This week we celebrated the end of schooling for the Class of 2021. Our senior cohort has had an excellent year and has led the College admirably in a challenging time for the world.

Finishing school is often a time of mixed emotions. For many students it is the right time to leave as the adult world awaits. For others, the sense of security, routine and belonging to a good school like John XXIII College will take time to replicate.

Today is particularly nostalgic because it is the last time that the whole year group will be together at the one venue. There will be future reunions but invariably there will be absences particularly as the years go by.

Many parents and staff in attendance at the ‘Day of Invitation’ assembly will have attended their own school reunions in recent times. They are always interesting occasions as former students learn of the successes and challenges of former school friends.

‘Who’ you become in the future is far more important that ‘what’ you become!

Recently I heard a story related by a consultant who works in education, the corporate world and sport. He is an Irish Australian and pre-Covid worked extensively in both countries.

Brendan was hired by an Irish Hurling Club to provide a strategic focus for the upcoming season. The Club wanted to establish a sense of purpose for their senior team that had real meaning rather than lots of rhetoric.

He asked what the Club had done in previous pre-seasons:

“We sit around a campfire and come up with a team and personal goal for the season. Then we head to the pub!”

The Consultant suggested they use the same theme but with a few modifications. When the time for the pre-season camp meeting arrived, he asked the team captain to be the first speaker.

The Captain was highly respected by the team. He picked up a Hurling stick and addressed the players:

‘I want to dedicate this season to my wife. We have a young family and when I am at training and in meetings for Hurling she needs to look after all the family duties. She has never once complained because she knows how much this Club means to me. Hopefully I will be able to reciprocate in the future.'

He then wrote his wife’s name on the Hurling stick and passed it on to one of the other leaders.

My Dad is amazing. I don’t live at home anymore, but he still drives me to every training and games because he knows how tired I will be at the end of each session. He doesn’t tell me what I should be doing during games; he just provides unconditional support.’

The player wrote his Dad’s name on the stick and passed it on to the next player:

‘My best mate, Ciaran, was a better junior player than me but injuries and opportunity restricted his progress. He is always thrilled for my success and offers support when I am down. He is never envious; always encouraging.’

The player wrote his mate’s name on the Hurling stick.

The process continued until each player related a story of one special person in their lives.

Finally, the stick ended up with the coach. His final words were significant. Gazing at what was written he said: