HomeNews & MediaTesting Our Will

Testing Our Will

I find that inspiration for my writing comes at different times and through a variety of channels, and this week was no different.  This week, the timing of the inspiration seemed perfect.

In a previous blog, I explained that I have been meeting with our current Grade 12s for lunch alongside Mr. Hill, our Head of the Senior School. One of our lunches had been moved to a different location and, as I waited for the girls’ arrival, I read some of the information posted around the room. Amongst these posts was a quotation by Paul Coelho:

“Life has many ways of testing a person’s will, either by having nothing happen at all or by having everything happen at once.”

I quickly copied the quotation into my notes, as I knew I had found my inspiration for this week.

The quotation had come on the heels of an interview that morning in which I was asked to share my and St. Clement’s, hopes for our girls. I explained that we felt strongly that our goal was to have our girls leave the School for their next stage of life with a passion for all that they do, a curiosity that inspires learning, and the courage to step outside their comfort zones. When the interviewer asked me to clarify what I meant by the need for courage, I explained that we know that life never presents us with a straight path; that each one of us is faced with times when we find ourselves without an answer, without a direction or, alternatively, with too much coming at us at once and no clear sense of what to do next. While being able to problem solve is a fundamental key to success, it is even more important to work to ensure confidence and courage during the uncomfortable stages prior to solving a problem or dealing with a dilemma.

As Coelho says, life has many ways of testing a person’s will. What St. Clement’s wants to ensure is that our girls stand strong when being tested, as it is that strength that enables them to move forward.

Share Article
Related Articles
Black History and Great Women

On February 1, the start of Black History Month, I posted a message of gratitude for the wor

VIEW ARTICLE
Mental Health and Learning

The ongoing work of various organizations such as Jack.org have had an impact on society’s shifting

VIEW ARTICLE