I hope you had a relaxing and refreshing holiday and are ready for what promises to be an exciting and busy Term 4. Our students are back from their Fiji Mission Trip and European Study Tour and I look forward to reading of their adventures in next week’s Eagle.
Have you thought about shaking things up in Term 4? Most students fall quickly into a habit sitting 
with the same friends in the same places early in the year. When I walk around the campus I notice that some groups even look like each other! As adults we are not much different and often spend time with the same people at work, church or at the club.
This is a very comfortable way of ‘doing life’ but have you thought about what you are missing out on? You are in danger of going through life knowing the same kind of people who think the same way as yourself!
Here are four reasons to shake things up in Term 4.
- Learn something new. Every new person you meet will have a different background, traditions and experiences. Widen your view of the world by making new friends.
- Enhance your communication skills. We often need to talk to new people as part of an assessment or in our workplace. Practice makes perfect. Our Year 10 students will soon be doing their mock interviews and for many this will be a scary time but good practice for their real life. The more you talk to new people, the easier it will become.
- Gain new friendships. It is healthy to have a wide circle of friends. If you only have a couple of friends and one moves away and the other moves on, then you are in for a difficult and lonely time. Making new friends benefits you and the person you befriend. Never underestimate the importance of friendship.
- Your future success relies heavily on networking. Sometimes it is difficult to find a job – not just after school but throughout life. Talk to your friends and you will be surprised at how many gained their job through knowing someone who knew about the job or could put in a good word for them.
Shake things up and practise making new friends now. It will become a valuable and rewarding lifelong skill.
Mike Curtis, Principal