Dean of Studies

Humility Breeds Success​

The time of Advent is a time of preparation for Christmas and the birth of Christ, as well as a time of celebration, joy, relaxation and reflection upon the year that has passed. One of the podcasts that I regularly listen to is 'Work Life' by Adam Grant. Adam is a Professor of Organisational Psychology at the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania, and is regarded as one of the Top 50 Thinkers in the world. In the episode, 'The problem with all-stars', Adam discusses the concept of humility and how this character trait builds success, and he interviews Brad Stevens, who at the time was the Head Coach of the Butler University Basketball Squad, and has since gone on to be the Head Coach of the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

What has made Butler University unique is that they are the smallest school ever to make the NCAA Finals two years in a row, and Brad Stevens has set NCAA records. He's the youngest coach to make two Final Fours and he won more games in his first four years than anybody in history. And then, at just 36 years old, he became the head coach of the Boston Celtics. Brad believes that a major part of the team's success is having humility. To quote Adam Grant:

“Humility isn't having a low opinion of yourself. One of its Latin roots means ‘from the earth’, and it requires a person to be grounded.”

So, humility doesn't require you to only do the grunt work, but it's about realising you're not above doing whatever the team needs. Furthermore, Adam identifies that the research highlights that humility is revealed through three key actions:

1. Recognise your own shortcomings and limitations.
2. Appreciate others' strengths, give credit where it's due and highlight the team's success over your individual achievements.
3. Show openness to learning from others as a passion for learning is contagious.

And so, to apply these ideas to the school academic year, the lesson from humility is to recognise our shortcomings and limitations – where did I set goals but come up short and more importantly, why did this happen? This becomes one of the foundations of reviewing and updating our goals for next year. Secondly, in the joy of Advent and the upcoming celebration, what were my successes this year, and who were the people in my life that contributed to my success that can be thanked and appreciated? Thirdly, a question for reflection is to continue to be open to learning and identify like-minded people in order for them and us to work together next year to achieve our goals. Humility is recognising that in this life, we cannot do it all by ourselves, and so we start with asking (praying to) God for insight and guidance, and then we look to the people in our lives that can help us achieve our personal best, as we can help them achieve their best.

Perhaps after all, humility is the missing key ingredient in success in life?

May God continue to offer his blessings to you all and wishing you a wonderful Christmas. Adam Grant’s podcast may be accessed via this link: https://www.ted.com/talks/worklife_with_adam_grant_the_team_of_humble_stars/transcript?referrer=playlist-worklife_with_adam_grant

College Awards (Term 4)

The College presented a number of awards at the final College Assembly on Friday 7 December and the following students are to be congratulated on their contributions and achievements:

Reading Award – Trophy Winners

Nicole Alconaba                        Anissa Holmes                              Charlie McCrostie                      Amelie Boyle

Cody Dobbie                               Ella Janelle Untalan                   Rylee Curtis                                  Corey Lyons

Alina Alina                                    Allyson Lai

Australian Mathematics Competition – Certificate of Distinction

Sumail Sidhu                              Jason Tirtajaya                            Jeann Valdez                              Aarush Vijapure

Rebecca Attwood                     Glen Brosztl                                   Jeremy Pang                               Nellie  Bond              Tony Ngo

College Contributions – Platinum Level Certificates

Shenae Hartree                         Arielle Chant                                  Bob Watson                                 Sharie Fernandez

Isabella Hulm                            Jaslina Pereira                               Sydney Midgley                         Holly Giles

Paige Craven-Bower               Nicole Alconaba

College Contributions – Gold Level Certificates

Rachel Bruyns                            Caitlin Pettersen                        Mary Carter                                Theo Steed

Phoebe van Heiningen            Anushka Kotian                         Megan Williams                        Nicole Vlahov

Bianca Valenti                             Isioma Onyemgba                    Francesco Tilli                           Chanmollika Chhim

College Contributions – Silver Level Certificates

Isabella Giuffre                         Zeta Stevens                               Ella Reilly                                       Caitlyn Popelier        

Chanelle Min                              Ethan Glassborrow                  Benjamin Berardis                    Bonnie McKnight    

Lily McDonald                            Darcy Eyre                                   Ayden Ratnasekera                   Cooper Notley           Dalila Nikaghanri                     Shanette Ndossi                        Alice Tkacz                                    Sophie Griffiths      Kristian Taylor                           Tegan Reder                               Jaxon Mikaere                              Kira Willis

Jeann Valdez                             Ethan Port-Louis                        Adam Min                                      Chloe Hewitt             

Subeedha Rijal                         Stephni Jesuthasan                  Alina George                                Keisha Desmond     

Clare Davey                                Rebecca Attwood                      Matilda Seroney                         Benjamin Plewright

Mariam Hayek                           Chloe Fitzgerald

College Contributions – Bronze Level Certificates

Raina Thomas                             Laniesha Paddon                      Caleb Yende-Emoko                 Kyra Dalton              

Jared Ticehurst                          Chloe Reilly                                  Danika Hampson                       Miah Homez   

Stephanie Earsman                  Phoenix Wu                                  Varun Shivnani                           Kyran Taylor  

Violet Russell                              Ciara McClean                              Arania Didiwik                            Taj Hewitt

Tyler Daltyn                                 Nellie Bond                                   Josephine Wong                       Charlize Williams

Erica Tilli                                      Joshua Taylor                               Emma Pickering                        Tiana Suckling 

Tara Monaghan                         Keyro Loreto                                  Daria Kozok                                 ArmaanJosan          

Aidin Fenwick                            Lance Cornwall                             Riley Suckling                             Neve Adnams

Gunkar Singh                            Summer Pollard                            Benjamin Park                           Paul Fuentes            

Rylee Curtis                                Adrienne Arias                              Tomos Williams                          Keisha Williams

Eliza Terrell                                 Blade Sartorelli                            Jesse Overmars                         Tony Ngo                    

Sophia Lu                                    Jonathon Le                                   Lena Hobbs                                Curtis Eyre                 

Joshua Dodsley                       Thayne Bridge                               Julian Zeeb                                 Alyssa Yang                

Aeldric Varilla                            Kalisto Ubu                                    Montana Saffioti                       Shelley Ramano       

Kaylan Mikaere                        Sophia Mangat                             Chelsea Macalad                        Connor Le Dain         Tianna Hook                             Anissa Holmes                             Mia Hendricks                             Isabella Hancock      Aaron Cohen                            Marty Cocking                              Glen Brosztl                                 Gigi Armenti             

Sienna Alaniz                          Jason Zhuang                               Blake Webb                                  Joshua Sobels           

Thomas Rogers                       Ash Perkins                                   Grace Park                                    Ciara Mahon             

Dalton King                               Aaron James                                Glenda Cornwall                       Christine Buluran

Dillon Bingham                        Augusto Biju                                 Rose Zinnah                               Ann Sibbi                     Guntaas Ranu                           Ciera Power                                  Ethan Powe                                 Sophia Pelicia           

Joshua Macneall                     Holly Litterick                              Mitch Hindmarsh                     Bianca Halton           

Ana Gabriel                               Jessica Espenlaub                      Isabelle Cayoun                        Charlene Wagland  

Joseph Roscoe                        David Puttick                                Max Patriarca                             Amelie Momus             Chloe Miller                              Louise Hayward                           Lachlan Fenwick                       Elijah Edmonds          

Juliana De Veyra                      Ella Janelle Untalan                  Taine Duncan-Howard           Flynn Beckwith     

Orlando Tompkins-Drew     Sanju Joseph Parolickal           Taine Rangitoheriri                   

Thanos Snooks-Holding       Vlad Lavi

Mr R Dowling (Dean of Studies)