The Last Word

By Hamish Leyser | Posted: Wednesday February 22, 2023

Good morning school, today I want to share with you my thoughts on the topic of challenges.

Challenges are an inevitable part of life that we all encounter. They can be daunting, frustrating, and even overwhelming at times, but they can also be opportunities for us to grow.

My first big challenge in life was the separation of my parents. It was hard to comprehend what was actually happening, being 10 years old it was difficult. At times I had to be strong for my parents because it was a difficult time for them too. Things became a reality for me when I was helping Dad move into his new house. Going through that hardship taught me the importance of family and how we take it for granted sometimes. Despite it all, my family remained strong and my parents are still friends to this day. This has taught me that through all challenges in life, there will always be positives even though they might be hard to see.

Another big challenge for me was changing schools and moving to the hostel. Having started out my secondary school experience at Cromwell College, I had to take a good look at myself and see what I was getting out of the school and where I was heading in life. I had to weigh up my options and finally made the decision to switch schools and move into the hostel. 

I’m sure everyone remembers their first day of school. I’m sure most of you were nervous, as you never know how it’s going to turn out. For me however, it was made easier by having the link of old school mates from Cromwell. They helped me get settled into the hostel and get started at school. This showed me the value of connections and ensuring that you engage with the community around you as you never know when you need those people in your life.

The challenges we face define who we are as people. Going through challenges as big as parents separating, through to something as small as waking up for school in the morning. How we approach these challenges speak a lot about who we are. I hope you can all rise to the occasion when facing your own challenges.