The Last Word

By Isaac Ottrey | Posted: Wednesday February 16, 2022

It’s very natural to learn by example and do things just because they're tried and tested or because others are doing it.

We, as humans, succumb to this and tend to follow others, just like sheep in a pasture or wolves in a pack. This is called following the crowd. Following the crowd means going along with the majority and making decisions based on what others are doing, rather than going with your personal beliefs.

The reason people conform and go along with the crowd is because they all want to be liked and accepted. In public, the desire to fit in is so strong that people often agree to a group consensus, even when it goes against their own judgement. However, in private they are much more likely to follow their own minds. This is called conformity, or wanting to fit in. Conformity involves changing your behaviours in order to fit in, or go along with the other people around you. Many people fall victim to this, as they want to be popular or are desperate to be a part of the group.

There's this famous saying: "If everyone jumps off a bridge, would you too?" Well believe it or not, we are unwittingly in line to jump off that bridge just to fit in with society.

It may be quite intimidating to stand out from the crowd and make unfamiliar decisions, yet it is a stance like this which gains you such a sensational place in life. There aren’t masses of people at the top, because the ones from the crowd never get to the top, as they're busy competing with each other. So, don’t be afraid to move away from the crowd and pave your own path. People will react to your unconventional choices, so keep a goal in sight, and make decisions not on what the crowd thinks, but what you think is right and what benefits you.

Because in reality boys, you don’t have to be like everybody else. You don’t have to be the best, but be the best version of you. Seek everything you need within yourself. Don’t sacrifice yourself to please others. Don’t give yourself, your dreams, or your goals away because of what the crowd wants you to be like. Doing this will make you feel good about who you are and what you're capable of.

What if we applied an attitude like this to our everyday lives? For instance, think about the ban on phones as an example. Why not look at the positive side of the new rule change, rather than making a fuss about it? Because boys, you may not realise it, but we as a school are stepping away from the crowd and making a positive change that is for the greater good. And in the Otago Boys' environment you can model these behaviours, so why not be the person who steps away from the crowd to stop and pick up that piece of rubbish, rather than walking on by with everyone else? Or the guy who puts that extra bit of effort into an assessment, rather than just doing the minimum because your mates are?

Of course you can be a part of people's lives, but be sure to keep the right company around. Just remember boys you don’t necessarily have to follow a crowd or be a part of a group to stand out. So back yourself, be courageous and pave your own path rather than walking on the same one as everyone else.

In OB’s tradition I will finish with a quotation from Albert Einstein.

“The one who follows the crowd will usually go no further than the crowd. Those who walk alone are likely to find themselves in places no one has ever been before.”

Cheers Boys.