“Master The Little”

At the 2016 National Young Leaders Day our Newington Leaders for 2016, Owen, Eddie and Laksh, were able to develop an understanding of what it means to “Master the Little” and be leaders who can work together in teams to achieve the goals set out for not only themselves but also everyone around them.

The boys were part of an audience of 6000 students, teachers and parents who heard from a wide range of speakers such as Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione, Paralympian Ben Austin and youth mentor Nathan Want. Although they shared differing stories about their lives and experiences, the recurring theme of never giving up and having a growth mindset in everything you do has left a strong impression on our boys.

Another thing that the guest speakers kept reminding the boys about was that as a leader it is important to “break everything down” into small chunks and identify the steps needed to achieve not only personal goals but also goals for the people you lead. They also spoke about taking risks, not being afraid to make mistakes and staying brave when you are not sure about what to do next.

“Today I learnt that being a leader isn’t about me taking charge, it is more about me empowering others.” Owen, School Captain.

“Listening to Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione was very inspiring because he spoke a lot about how leaders need to be fair and act with integrity. He told us of the importance to lead by example and make good choices.” Laksh, Kingswood Captain.

“Being someone who really likes sports I was inspired to hear the story of Ben Austin, a Paralympian and World Record Swimmer. Ben spoke about how when things get really tough to never give up. It’s only when you are trying new things and doing something you have never done before you learn who you are.” Eddie, Rydal Captain.

The day reinforced to the boys that all of us can be leaders and that when you “Master the Little”, great things can happen.

Jackson English – Year 6 Teacher