"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail" (Ralph Waldo Emerson". Co-incidentally, written on the prizes that I was awarded there is a message from each one of my teachers.
One such example is as follows: "leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it (Eisenhower). You have an extraordinary talent to make people willingly follow your lead. Continue to learn and lead by example".
2012 has thus far been a year of learning. It also looks to be full of opportunities to shape young minds. I am not where I thought I would be when I was standing at the lectern looking out at all of the anticipated faces, young and old. So much has changed for me since my school days. I am no more a cynic than the next person but I can now see how difficult life can be for some. Up until now I have had a very privileged life. My parents have worked tirelessly to give me the education I received. St Davids Girls School, Lady Eleanor Holles and Llandovery College, finally ending up at Warwick - not a bad run, though I must admit to putting 100% into every sport and activity.
Last night I met one of my oldest friends, Morgan (Seb). We were reminiscing about being tired and cold in the middle of a field in Pembrokeshire, covered in mud and camo on stag at 4am and attempting to ambush the rebel PANTS army the next morning (the People's Army of North Templeton Soldiers), being taken as prisoners of war and still having beaming smiles despite not having eaten anything other than biscuit browns and boiled sweets for two days. There were the endless days in tents trying to bribe my friends along the coastal path with Haribo, chilling with the Duke of Edinburgh with a cup of tea, the day Morgan saved my life on Pen y Fan, days of swatting on Economic policies to present to the Bank of England when none of us actually studied Economics, racing a tall ship to Antwerp and getting caught in an horrific storm, getting lost in Cologne on Choir Tour and eating bratwurst with some travelling monks, attacking the younger girls with silly string and taping them into their beds in Ty Llanofer (boarding house) with gaffa tape when they set the fire alarms off in the middle of the night or throwing icy cold water over them when they turned the shower off.
Performing a Royal Salute on horseback for HM The Queen at Royal Windsor...getting rather 'squiffy' and persuading a whole camp full of officers and CTT to jump into the back of one single van and go to some shady club in Weymouth only having to call the Security guards to come and drive us back to base at 7am...jumping out of Chinooks at Nesscliffe on UKLF with all guns blazing having gone to war because the Middle East were controlling the world price of milk chocolate...7 D of E Gold expeditions in Canada and standing on the top of Bow Glacier. I dearly miss the enthusiasm that we all shared when we were cold and wet, didn't know what we were doing next or what we would be asked to turn our hands to and were always bright and bushy tailed at 6 am. I can honestly say that I never learnt more about myself or the human race than when we were faced with what we thought was adversity.
However, I now face a new challenge and am trying to stare adversity in the face as after all, 'these things are sent to try us' (thanks Mr Rees). All of the worldy knowledge that I have accumulated outside the classroom is coming to fruition. Books and science can only help so much, for once you know the theory you must have the gumption to put it into practice.
I can honestly say that I have now chosen a new path...well I am exploring a new one at least and I do not intend to tread lightly. I have never been one to follow without due reason or unless I didn't think I was equipped to lead myself. I have always preferred to go my own way with the knowledge that I have gained, my mind which I trust implicitly and a little (or a lot) of help from my friends.
The last inscription in my Warden's (Headmaster's) prize: "What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lives within us" (Henry Thoreau). Watch out because I'm well and truly back. A new perspective on life, perhaps, but my trail is blazing ahead. I will continue to learn.
No comments:
Post a Comment