From the Head of Senior School

Here we are at the end of the calendar year, my first at MLC School. I have enjoyed this year very much. I have said to so many people when they have asked, that I feel as though I have been here for much longer than a year. However, I think I will feel truly a part of the MLC School community once I have been a part of all the big school events for the year. I am so looking forward to seeing my first Speech Night, to come together with the community to celebrate the school and the achievements of our students.

While I am reflecting on the remarkable achievements of our students, it is time for me to reflect on my own achievements this year. Keen players might remember that at the beginning of Term 3, in my welcome letter, that I declared that I had two goals for the semester, to complete a two minute plank, and to stop talking about being ‘busy’. Well, I can confidently say that I failed at both those things. I refuse to use the obvious excuse, that I might just have been too busy to plank!

While success is a sweet reward, and I would likely have revelled in publishing a very boring video of me performing a two minute plank, the bitter taste of failure is an inevitable part of my journey. Accepting that I have failed to achieve the goal, and acknowledging this, means that I can celebrate the small victories along the way. I have prioritised balancing health with school, and despite not reaching my goal, I have certainly made positive changes which will continue to propel me forward positively. I am proud that I have continued to play netball and go to the gym but despite this, I have failed to achieve the specific and measurable goal that I set in Term 3.

This is something MLC School girls should feel confident to do; fail. Failure is a concept often stigmatized by society, seen as a mark of inadequacy or incompetence. Yet, it is essential to redefine our perception of failure. Instead of viewing it as a dead-end, we should see it as a pivot point – a chance to reassess, learn, and recalibrate our approach, ultimately building resilience. Our pastoral care program is integral in building these skills and providing these opportunities, as is participating in the co-curricular life of the school. Over the school holiday break, I encourage you to speak with your daughters about making the most of their opportunities in 2024, to set some goals, and to celebrate the small wins along the way.

– Joanna Graffen
Head of Senior School

Header photo courtesy of ‘Unsplash’