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:

Recognise your own shortcomings and limitations.
Appreciate others' strengths, give credit where it's due and highlight the team's success over your individual achievements.
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)

Student Ministry

Catholic Agencies Christmas Appeal