The Last Word
By Michael Crosson | Posted: Tuesday February 23, 2021
Each week at senior assembly one of our Prefect's present their "Last Word". We like to share these with the school community.
Morning lads. I hope after a few weeks you’ve settled into school easily and are ready to properly get into term 1.
As we enter into another year of schooling, it can be very easy, often inevitable, to fall back into old habits and patterns. While not necessarily a bad thing, this morning I want to challenge any patterns that… might hold you back. Try and find some little moments of inspiration or motivation that can help you do something different this year. See if you can tick off just one item on the bucket list. About this time, or several weeks earlier, a lot of New Year’s resolutions tend to go out the window, and I’m certainly not immune to that time honoured tradition. However, just hold on before you make a quick judgement call, and listen to what might actually be good with looking for a little inspiration now and then.
Fun fact; I used to be terrified of athletics day. Throughout intermediate, and junior years at OBHS, I’d spend the weeks leading up to it nervous and just wanting to get it over with. I’m not exactly a physical specimen, and the idea of showcasing my running, jumping and throwing abilities was not something I looked forward to.
Then about last year, as I was going through the usual motions of dread and despair leading up to the trip to the Caledonian, I realised: stop taking myself so seriously. I mean, no one else is. So I didn’t. I just decided to make the best of what would be an athletically disastrous situation. And by doing so, I managed to turn a feared annual event of mine into a tolerable and even enjoyable experience.
That simple mental switch to approaching difficulty is often all it takes to find a little bit of motivation to do something. I’m not saying I left athletics day feeling inspired, but at least I was looking forward to next year’s. You’ve got to pick your battles at school. There’s always going to be things you won’t enjoy. Cross Country, that pointless calc internal, or just every calc period in general. But don’t let that be a reason to sap motivation away from other things you may actually enjoy. Don’t try and find inspiration in every minute of every day.
2020 gave us a pretty handy reason to stay indoors, sit back and binge through whatever was popular on Netflix. Don’t fall into those same patterns this year. Go for that persistent goal in the back of your mind. Confront that obstacle that could actually be something to look forward to, like my athletics day. There’s always going to be a reason not to do it; a handy excuse to stop trying. That’s fine. Just don’t expect 2021 to be that different from 2020.
Some of you may be wondering who I am. Some of you may have never heard my name until Mr Hall said it 3 minutes ago. Some of you may be doubting why I’m up here. I get that. But. I’ve got a job to do, and I’m looking forward to doing it. I’m going to make the most of this year. I want to represent you guys, and make sure that you’re not left unheard and ignored. I am fully willing to serve and lead all of you who sit here in this auditorium. I can’t promise to see each of you every day, and make mates with all of you personally. But I can make your opinion recognised and acknowledged, so long as you tell me. That’s my goal, my inspiration for the year. To lead, and represent you.
This can be your year lads. Don’t let it hold you back.
