What are you doing? the traveller asked. The stonecutter looked up with a visionary gleam in his eye and said, I am building a cathedral.

Transcription

1 Policy Speech 2017 Good afternoon Dr Wilson Reynolds, distinguished guests, parents, special friends, teachers and girls of St Hilda s School. Welcome to the Senior Induction Service for the Year 12 students of Today I see before me a mass of young, vibrant faces, radiating potential and purpose; young women who are equipped to change the world whether they believe they can or not. Before I announce my policy for 2017, I would just like to express how honoured I am to be able to lead this school of innovative young women who are capable of achieving the impossible. It is a great privilege to be able to share my thoughts and hopes for the future in the form of this address. After weighing up the virtues and attributes I value, I have determined that these four pillars are the most important to be embraced in every aspect of our lives. Individuality, Unity, Open-mindedness and Gratitude. While I was researching, I came across an age-old tale known as The Three Stone Cutters. This parable was fascinating. As you delve beneath the surface, there is a profound underlying message, which encapsulates my vision for St Hilda s in The story goes like this A long time ago, there was a traveller who came across three stonecutters all busy at work. Intrigued by their work, the traveller asked the first stonecutter what he was doing. Almost reluctantly, the first stonecutter quickly responded with, I am making a living. Still no wiser, the traveller turned and questioned the work of the second stonecutter whom exclaimed, I am doing the best stonecutting job in the entire world! Finally, a little closer to the answer, he looked to the third stonecutter who was by far the happiest.

2 What are you doing? the traveller asked. The stonecutter looked up with a visionary gleam in his eye and said, I am building a cathedral. It is clear that the first stonecutter was simply working for a day s pay. The substance and purpose of his work did not interest him. The second stonecutter had higher aspirations yet he was an individualist whose vision was in isolation and therefore incomplete. The third stonecutter embraced a broader vision. He reminded us that whilst individual strength is vital, it isn t enough if we want to make a difference in this world. This story teaches us that whilst all of us are trying to chisel out our own place in the world, sometimes we lose sight of the bigger picture. We lose sight of our cathedral. We will have much higher aspirations and see the sum of all our different parts if we work together. Sometimes all it takes, is to step back, and collectively re-evaluate what really matters, in order to see all of our pieces click together. Just as when you construct a puzzle, some people only see themselves working on a single section, whereas others can capture the whole scene. Every piece is imperative to completing a bigger picture because even with one missing piece, the picture is incomplete. You are a piece of a jigsaw puzzle as you have an authentic set of tabs and blanks and an exclusive pattern. These tabs and blanks represent your own style, qualities and personality. Even though the second stonecutter s vision was imperfect, he took pride in his work and still had the highest aspirations to be the best stonecutter the world had ever seen. Likewise, I ask that you aspire to be the best version of yourself. Welcome your individuality and embrace the tabs and blanks of your unique puzzle piece.

3 There are nearly 8 billion people in the world, and in order to Be the Change as Courtney so passionately challenged you to be last year, you must aim to be your best, most authentic self. Don t be a carbon copy, there are too many carbon copies in the world too many people who strive to pour themselves into a rigid mould. The people who make a difference in this world are those who radiate confidence and are comfortable with who they are as they have the courage to embrace their individuality. Girls, be independent! Speak up when you believe in something. Stand up for yourself and be confident. As Mr Keating from Dead Poet s Society so intelligently stated, We all have a great need for acceptance, but you must trust that your beliefs are unique, your own, even though others may think them odd or unpopular. Seniors, our St Hilda s puzzle is nearing completion, so make sure that you have made your piece really count. The second pillar of unity teaches us that when we work in unison, our whole vision can be achieved. We need to understand that as a school, we are the sum of each other. In order to understand each other, we must make new connections and appreciate that we are all united in the St Hilda s puzzle, all of our very individual 1185 pieces. So I ask of you don t be afraid to talk to someone you don t know. Be it waiting in the tuckshop line, microwaving your food or printing your assignments, look up. Don t resort to staring down at your phone. Instead, have a chat and learn something about one another because it is these seemingly insignificant interactions that play a critical role in joining us. When we join apiece of the puzzle together, we establish a bond. When we interact with each other, we establish new connections and become a unified whole. We see the bigger picture. We build our cathedral.

4 This leads me to the third pillar: open-mindedness. There is a common misconception that taking risks is well risky. But the truth of the matter is that taking risks is no more risky than doing nothing at all and maintaining the status quo. In fact, often by failing to move forwards and open doors for ourselves, we are susceptible to stagnation and falling behind. I deeply admire J.K. Rowling for her persistence. Did you know that she received 12 rejections before Harry Potter was finally published? Yet she still didn t lose sight of her own ideas and kept persisting, saying, It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all, in which case you have failed by default. All of you girls before me are presented with an array of opportunities that are just waiting to be realised. I dare you to open your mind to these options and possibilities. Ignite your passion because it is passion that enables us to go places others are afraid to go, to try things others are afraid to do and to surprise people with an unmatched confidence and charisma. Believe that there are no boundaries except those that we create ourselves. Never be afraid to try something new. Remember amateurs built the ark and professionals built the Titanic. So girls, I challenge you to step outside your comfort zone, whether it is volunteering to speak at assembly or trying out for the opens team. Small things lead to big things. Don t let the enormity of the St Hilda s 1185 piece puzzle swallow your desire to get involved, instead, embrace the puzzle with an open mind and be comforted that there are 1184 other girls who want to join with you. Last but nowhere near least, gratitude is one of the most important qualities we are going to practise. Too often we are so caught up in our own busy lives that we forget to take a moment to just stop and appreciate the things that we are so fortunate to have.

5 Like the first stonecutter, we may only be appreciating the material things in life and lack awareness of the bigger picture. We focus on what we don t have; we draw our attention to the pieces that are missing rather than sections that we have completed. Whether you realise it or not, we are so privileged to attend a school such as St Hilda s. A school where we feel empowered to pursue our dreams and individuality. A school that listens to our voices and provides us with the tools to change the world. I implore you to express gratitude for what you have, whether that be through actions or words to family, friends or teachers. Expressing your appreciation is such a small effort that can have a large effect on someone else. For 105 years, girls have come to St Hilda s School and have left as strong and intelligent women; the class of 2017 will undoubtedly continue this tradition. Let us set ourselves a challenge: to embody our individuality, to reinforce our unity, to embrace an open mind, to act with gratitude and to the 1185 stonecutters who dream not just to build a cathedral but dream to build a skyscraper is the year to reach new heights in academics, sports and cultural arts and to realise that our unique puzzle pieces fit together is the year to See the Bigger Picture. Thank you.