Our Dean of Student Wellbeing, Jo Swain, shares insight into how girls respond to responsibility and disappointment at St Hilda’s.
Inspiring an entrepreneurial spirit in our girls
Leadership takes courage, and this is one of the most important virtues we can teach our students during their journey at St Hilda’s.
Maya Angelou constantly inspires us with her words and wisdom and states:
“One isn’t born with courage. One develops it. And you develop it by doing small, courageous things in the same way that one wouldn’t set out to pick up a 100-pound bag of rice. You begin with a five-pound bag, then ten pounds and so forth, until one builds up enough muscle to actually pick up 100 pounds. And that’s the same way with courage. You develop courage by doing courageous things, small things, but things that cost you some exertion – mental and spiritual exertion.”
Leadership within our community
Our students display this courage every day in various ways. They speak confidently at assemblies in front of 850 peers and 150 staff. They go out into our community and serve by walking into unknown places and giving time to those in need. Our students try out for sporting teams, musical groups, and productions, knowing they may not get selected, but they keep turning up and finding the courage to put themselves out there.
This is the same with the leadership roles within our community. Our students put their names down to be year representatives, on committees, or even to lead as Year 12 Prefects or Officials. They choose to be a part of this process after years of small and courageous moments, which prepares them for these more significant responsibilities.
What is impressive to watch at St Hilda’s is how the other students are supportive cheerleaders to their friends during these processes. Just a few weeks back, some students who missed out on being selected for IGSSA Dance were in the audience with flowers for their friends participating on the stage. Students who didn’t get through to Round 2 of the Year 12 leadership process filmed their friends’ videos to ensure they encouraged and assisted them in their pursuits. Our students respond to disappointment and show immense resilience by continuing to turn up, support their peers and find opportunities to be involved. They are in a safe and supportive environment to try new things and have the perspective to be grateful for what the opportunity provides rather than the outcome.
It is also incredible to watch how our students receive added responsibility and how they can thrive within their new roles. When elected to the Student Council, they bravely show student agency, as they give feedback on various topics to various key staff in the School. Our senior leader’s mentor younger students with kindness, compassion and patience. They quickly learn to balance multiple commitments and understand how vital delegation is. Our students are authentic in their leadership roles as they do so in a safe environment under the guidance of their proud teachers. Those small moments of courage in the earlier years culminate in our senior students leading with pride and confidence in many areas within our School and the wider community.
