From the Principal – August 2023
Confidence is the feeling or belief that one can have faith in or rely on someone or something. It means feeling sure of yourself and your abilities — not in an arrogant way, but in a realistic, secure way. Confidence is not about feeling superior to others. It is a quiet inner knowledge that you are capable.
Confidence is one of the ingredients we know to be at the essence of importance in judging character. It is my belief, that more people are valued because of their character and capacity to connect than they are for the raw ability they might be able to display. We innately know that we do not learn confidence from a book. You can learn a bit from talking about it with friends. A mentor or role model may help. But there is nothing like good old practice. That is why the new beginnings that we have spread through life are so valuable. First day at school (we all managed that), first day at new sport training (all enjoyed that), first day with a new teacher (we surprised ourselves and found it worked well), are just a few of the many first moments that sprinkle our lives. School plays a critical part in giving us the Human Skills of learning to cope. What we really learn, if the process is managed well, is that the result is fantastic.
Confidence is the building block of a happy and successful life. Next time you have before you, the magic moment of helping another prepare for a new experience think carefully. Is this the chance to scare? Please take the chance to guide usefully (and that can still have humour and wit involved) because you can change a life by building confidence
The confidence of our young innovators who competed in the 2023 Innovation Challenge held on 14 August, must be at an all-time high and rightly so as they all are the champions of solving problems that impact our future. This year we had 30 teams from Years 4-10. Confidence building in action!
The Peter Doherty Awards for Excellence in STEM Education recognises students who demonstrate an outstanding and innovative contribution to STEM education in Queensland. The awards are named after Professor Peter Doherty, a Brisbane-born Nobel Prize-winning scientist. This year was the 20th year of these awards.
The first St John’s recipient of this prestigious award was in 2021 during the pandemic. We were thrilled to learn that Isuka Muthumuni, was one of 14 students in Queensland to receive the award and Mrs Sharon Singh was our first Outstanding Teacher of Stem Award.
It is with great pride that we can officially reveal that the 2023 Peter Doherty Scholarship awardee is Talia Golding, Service Prefect, a young woman who has shown a quiet confidence to excel in the field of STEM. Three of our people making St John’s history! Here’s what Talia had to say about being recognised in this way:
The Peter Doherty Award opens the door to many opportunities to deepen my involvement in STEM and further my exploration of the different pathways. I hope to use the money to participate in a medical internship program in Nepal, Ghana, or Kenya to gain healthcare experience. These programs allow you to shadow doctors and healthcare professionals in specific hospital departments and outreach centres to learn about the diagnosis and treatment of diseases.
After graduating from St John’s, I hope to study paramedicine, and potentially undertake a Doctor of Medicine degree. I also hope to promote women’s health and serve rural or marginalised communities through Médecins Sans Frontières or the Royal Flying Doctor service.
At St John’s Anglican College, we have the privilege and responsibility to fashion communities of quiet confidence and hope. It is in in partnership with our parents, students and staff. These values intertwine with spirituality, leadership, education, service and environment. By adhering to our school values of, Faith Hope Love Courage Community and Justice, we also prepare the way for a future that does indeed offer the promise of redemption, renewal, regeneration and above all, hope.
Mrs Maria McIvor
Principal
