Leave a Legacy

Reflecting Upon the Beginning of the End

M. L. Morton

Noun: Legacy – The long lasting impact of particular events, actions, etc that took place in the past.

AS I ENTER MY FINAL YEAR OF SCHOOLING AT SHORE, and the threat of “the HSC starting now” actually being upon me, I’m not thinking about the stressful, sleepless nights or the late library study sessions ahead, no. Instead, I can’t stop thinking, “I wish I did _____ or got involved with  _____.” While six years of School seems like a long time, in reality, it goes by pretty fast. 

Some might say to leave a legacy, you need to be the best at something or really smart. It’s not true. I know that I’m nowhere near the smartest, sportiest or best leader in my year, but I know that when I leave the front gates for the last time in a year, I would have left a legacy not only for the younger students in my house but for my peers. It’s taken me five years to learn these things, and coming into Year 12, I thought I would share some of them.

Don’t take anything for granted. Yes, it’s much easier said than done, but being at a School like Shore does come with its benefits. So use them; utilise the Study Centre, go to the gym with mates, use the online resources available, and the list goes on. You won’t have facilities like these forever, so make the most of them while you’re here.

Seek out opportunities. One of the biggest things I wish I had done sooner was seeking out opportunities. Being passive and waiting for things to happen gets you nowhere. Join different co-curricular activities, write for the Blue and White Insight, or join a service or group. By doing things like these you meet new people and get involved in the School.

Give back. Now by saying this I don’t mean whenever anybody asks for something you give it to them. I mean that when you have the chance to participate in a charity event, peer tutoring, or even just helping out a younger student. Take the time to help. The most valuable thing you can give someone is your time.

Six years / 2190 days / 52, 560 hours. That’s how long you are a “current Shore boy” in Senior School. Make the most of it! The temporary pain of doing something is nothing compared to the long-lasting regret of not having done it at all.