Deputy Head of College News

‘Polepole’

Placing ‘one foot in front of the other’ or ‘take one step at a time’ are familiar cliches. Of a similar ilk is ‘Polepole’ – a chant shared among intrepid travellers hiking Mt Kilimanjaro who may be daunted by the imposing climb ahead or who are struggling to keep altitude sickness at bay. This Swahili chant reminds hikers of ‘how’ to take the next step. Take it slowly, mindfully. Keep moving. Not by marching. Not by stamping one’s feet. Keep moving slowly and gently.

At this time of a term and a school year, households and classrooms become a buzz of activity centred around completing and preparing for assessment. Be it exams, assignments or presentations, desks and kitchen tables are points of intense focus, and sometimes the point of frustration as students and children aspire for improvement in their studies. Some students (and parents!) respond with determination, and some respond with hesitation or avoidance – fight or flight if you will. The chant of ‘Polepole’ (slowly, slowly) reminds us of the importance of keeping things simple when they become complex. Take a breath. Be gentle. Keep chipping away. Keep inching forward.

By adopting the ‘polepole’ we are keeping our response in proportion to our environment. The physical and psychological stresses of hiking Kilimanjaro are many. It’s freezing cold. The air is thin. The ground is rocky. The climb is long and steep. You can’t shorten the struggle by running, swiftly walking or getting fitter beforehand. There is no other way to the top other than allowing your body and mind to fall into the rhythm of the mountain. To go ‘slowly, slowly’.

As we support our young men to take their final ‘steps’ for this semester, may we remind ourselves and model to our sons and students the art of slowing down to go further or go for longer. By doing this we can more closely align ourselves to the demands of our environment and give ourselves the best chance to take the next step for which we aspire.

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