Kindness Matters
Hadley House Captain Zoe, reminds us that supportive school connections can shape lives.
Each week, our student leaders share their insights with their peers in Assembly.
I recently attended the Harry Styles concert and this morning I would like to share some lessons I learned from that sublime experience.
Firstly, Harry’s fans are a bit scary. One of the most paradoxical experiences of my life was listening to someone yell at me for accidentally stepping on her foot in the mosh pit, while she was simultaneously screaming to the song Treat People With Kindness.
Secondly, Harry’s songs have some valuable insights. My experience at the concert made me consider how the words “treat people with kindness” are often undervalued, and I think it is important to apply this kindness to others as well as to ourselves.
We are very fortunate here at 韩国AV, to be presented with an enormous number of opportunities, co-curricular offerings, and a high academic standard. It is vital to take advantage of these, but we must also consider our wellbeing. Putting our “hands in” not only means taking every opportunity but also working as a community to support one another.
Approaching the end of the term, it is easy to become very stressed around study, marks, ranks, and expectations surrounding how well we should perform. When we don’t meet certain standards, it is easy to feel we have failed. Too often, we fall into the trap of being overcritical of our abilities, our personalities, and ultimately ourselves as a whole. So, I think it is vital to realise the importance of being kind to ourselves. Instead of convincing yourself that you are not enough, be proud of the things you have achieved, even if they may not seem significant. I am proud of all of you for simply waking up this morning and coming to school today because I know that can often be hard.
At the end of the day, the only person we can control is ourselves. We cannot control how the people surrounding us feel, or think, but we have full autonomy over our interactions with others. So, I want you to remember to not only put your “hands in”, but also to hold someone else’s hand. That doesn’t mean we literally have to skip around holding hands, although that would be kind of wholesome. It means telling someone you are there for them, you appreciate them, or you are proud of them. We often underestimate the power our words can have on others. Our words can honestly change someone’s life, but so can our silence. Not saying anything can be just as powerful, so check up on your friends and ask them how they are doing.
Ultimately, when we look back on high school, we are not going to remember our marks and exams, what will stick with us is how we felt and the relationships we had. Let us focus on the present and try not to stress about the past or the future, or on things that are out of our control. Let’s lift each other up as we continue the year and put our “hands in”, so if someone needs a hand to hold, there’s one there for them.
Thank you.