Preparing our Children to Soar
“To raise a child, who is comfortable enough to leave you, means you’ve done your job. They are not ours to keep, but to teach them to soar on their own.”
I recently came across this quote in a social media feed. I thought it was worth keeping and reflecting on in our community. In the early weeks of Term 1 this year we have seen so many students ‘soaring’ as they gently embraced new experiences.
Our Year 7 students have been introduced to secondary school life at Brigidine and once ‘let go’ are starting to find their wings. The transition period to new things is always a challenging time in life but our students have enthusiastically embraced their recent Camp at Chowder Bay, their new subjects and classroom spaces, and their new cocurricular activities like Water Polo, Dance and Debating which started too. The phrase ‘thrown in the deep end’ comes to mind but it is often in these moments that people can thrive and find their strengths.
We are focused on being ‘Ready’ in Term 1. Readiness for life is an important aspect of both teaching and parenting, as alluded to in the quote above. We are only a part of the life of students for six years and our efforts, guidance and teaching are focused on enabling each student to be her best and to find enduring passions for life beyond Brigidine. Forming strong relationships based on mutual respect with her peers, parents and teachers is also a critical component.
We want our graduates to be ‘Ready’ for the world and have a strong foundation of values, sense of competence and the confidence to face the challenges of life. Being ‘Ready’ should be an individual’s priority and hopefully come from within each of our students. If your child is not there yet, steady and consistent encouragement to make her own way will be the way through. There are many relationship challenges for adolescents; they will make their own mistakes, forget things, hurt others and procrastinate. These moments actually require our young students to experience some heartache and being uncomfortable in order to grow. Our role is to gently support them through their journey to self-regulation and adult responsibility. Clearing the pathway and doing the hard work for them does little for their independence or their capacity to solve issues themselves. It is the most challenging part of the role of the parent; when to step in and when to leave things be. In time, your daughters readiness for life will be enhanced through experiencing both acceptance and rejection, as both will make her stronger and gentler as a person.
As we move into the season of Lent next week on Ash Wednesday, we also reflect on our readiness to listen to the voices within and to be stronger in our discipleship to God. Through increased prayer, giving to others and fasting, the season of Lent provides us all with the opportunity to reflect on being our best self and focusing on what is essential for a happy and rewarding life. The Easter season comes to us in April as an even more joyful celebration after we have prepared ourselves during Lent. Our support of Caritas Australia with the Project Compassion Appeal will be central for the College during Lent.
The Year 12 theme for 2025 is 2025 Come Alive, so we wish all students the opportunity to ‘come alive’ this year with a renewed sense of readiness and the capacity to learn and grow through every experience that comes their way.
Brian Loughland
Deputy Principal Faith and Mission
