Courage to Begin

Prefect Abi used her Assembly address to make a candid case for choosing action over comfort. Drawing on the Prefects’ ‘Give more, Grow more’ initiative, a self-taught harmonica habit and the humbling aftermath of a speeding fine, she reminded her peers that growth begins not with perfection, but with the willingness to start.

Each week, our students share their insights with their peers in Assembly.

With a new year and a fresh start often comes a familiar pressure. New schedules, new expectations, and the quiet assumption that we should already have everything figured out. It can feel as though everyone else has their lives neatly pulled together, leaving us wondering if we’re the only ones still piecing things together.

But this so-called ‘pressure’ can blind us to reality: nobody begins the year, or anything in life, ‘perfect’. Acknowledging this is what opens the door to growth. Inevitably, we all stumble, second guess ourselves and make mistakes. Yet it’s by giving things a go and leaning into those uncomfortable moments we instinctively avoid that genuine growth begins to take shape.

In fact, some of the most successful organisations in the world actively value these setbacks. Google, for example, often looks for people who’ve launched something and watched it fall apart, over those who’ve never taken such risks. Not because they enjoy things going wrong, but because giving something a go, even when you don’t nail it, shows a willingness to step forward, take a chance and learn from what didn’t go to plan.

For most of us, though, this sense of failure feels uncomfortable. It feels like getting it wrong, standing out for the wrong reasons, or not being good enough. So, we avoid it. We hide it, laugh it off, or pretend it never happened. But failing isn’t actually the opposite of success – it’s simply what happens when you choose action over comfort. It’s the natural result of stretching your abilities and stepping into something new. And growth begins the moment you’re willing to start, even when success isn’t guaranteed.

This idea connects directly to our Prefect initiative, “Give more, Grow more.” Giving more is often understood as offering time, effort or kindness – and those things absolutely matter – but I believe “giving more” also means “to give something a go.” Growth doesn’t come from perfection, it comes from participation, from stepping in before you feel ready, and from accepting that the outcome might not be what you planned. And I say this as someone who gives many things a go, often with mixed results.

Last year, for example, I decided to teach myself the harmonica, a dangerous combination for me. After many enthusiastic attempts, I can now confidently play just one song. I still carry it in my school bag, in case anyone is curious about the single tune I’ve mastered, despite all my attempts at other songs. What this harmonica has taught me, quite brutally, is that I’m not a natural, but persisting and enduring the tragic squeaks and off-key moments is how you improve and grow, even if progress is slow and slightly awkward.

I also decided to give driving a go. I passed my P’s test on the first attempt and felt proud and very free – again, in hindsight, a dangerous combination. Less than two weeks later, I was caught going 11 kilometres over the speed limit and lost my licence. That offence happened on 1 October, with my suspension beginning in early December. With over a month still to go, I’ve had plenty of time to reflect, mostly from the passenger seat.

I share this story not because I’m proud of it, but because it shows that giving something a go doesn’t always go as planned. Being forced to face consequences, reflect and change is uncomfortable, but it’s also where some of the most important learning happens – the learning that makes growth possible.

Through this lengthy, humbling experience, I’ve learnt unforgettable lessons about responsibility and patience, but also about owning my ‘not-so-great’ moments, and maintaining the Courage to try again when my licence and I are reunited.