Do what you enjoy
We had an excellent assembly on Monday delivered by Mr McCann, who talked about the importance, and the joy, of actively trying to do things we find hard. He made the case that whilst comfort is important, it is often when we step out of our comfort zone and challenge ourselves that we truly develop our skills, understanding, and ultimately our confidence.
Mr McCann’s talk was followed by announcements of the winners and highly placed entrants in no fewer than four different academic competitions: the BEBRAS computational thinking challenge, the British Physics Olympiad, our own Foundation Day essay competition, and the Rotary Design Challenge.
If you would like to read more about the academic successes of our pupils, and find out about some of the competitions available to your child, I highly recommend our Enrich newsletter. This can be accessed via our website, the latest issue was released on Wednesday.
I am frequently impressed, and sometimes astonished, by the work our pupils are willing to put into competitions of any kind. I have come to the conclusion that it can only be because they enjoy the challenge these opportunities provide. This put me in mind of our Year 9 pupils, who are currently deciding on their GCSE choices. Pupils and parents often ask for advice about “the best” subjects to study. Aside from one or two very obvious cases (for example, you will struggle to study for a degree in engineering without an A-level in Physics), our advice is always the same: do what you enjoy.
This can sound rather soft, but the reality is that it is almost always correct. The notion of having to “work hard” can sound intimidating. But working hard at something you enjoy, whether that is practising a sporting skill, painting a picture, or even writing an essay, is far less daunting. In fact, working hard at something you enjoy, and seeing your skills or understanding improve, is one of the most satisfying experiences a person can have. And as Mr McCann would remind us, it is a key part of building self-confidence too.
So, whether your child is choosing their creative subjects for Year 9, their GCSEs, their A-levels, their degree, or even a future career, reflecting carefully on what they enjoy is likely to be the most important factor in their choice. If they can understand what they enjoy and why, then hard work will follow, which will almost certainly be followed in turn by progress and success. Perhaps do what you enjoy is not quite such soft advice after all!
With best wishes,
Magnus Anderson
Headmaster