Collaborative Motivation
Our Junior School Prefects joined us in the Principal’s Assembly again this week to share with the Senior School, their efforts to apply the 2023-2024 theme, “Celebrate to Elevate”.
Evita, Year 6:
Celebrate to elevate – three words that could mean infinite things. To us, this motto takes us back to two weeks ago in the Independent Theatre, when Belinda and I competed in the Board of Governors’ Music Awards.
We were so nervous but so lucky to have each other. I couldn't have been more grateful to have such an encouraging friend by my side. She really helped me. I feel like, without having such a happy face smile at me while I saw my name appear on the screen, I wouldn’t have been able to even walk onto the stage. Having a friend by your side can make the biggest difference when it comes to performing or presenting, or even just taking a small test in maths.
People have different opinions of what a real friend is. Some think it’s a person who will always make you laugh, some think it’s someone who will always protect them, but for me, a real friend is one who is loyal, kind, and supportive, or in other words, someone who can “celebrate to elevate”. Belinda has always demonstrated these characteristics, and that's why I value her so much as a friend. Thank you, Belinda.
Before the music awards, I never fully appreciated the effect that my friends had on me. Support, I feel, comes across more profoundly when it comes from peers, and it is so much more elevating when friends are celebrating you, so I always try to support my friends.
When I looked across at Belinda while the award winners were being called, I could see the fear and nervousness etched on her face. She had convinced herself that she had played badly, but I had a gut feeling that she had the win in the bag. Our heat was called.
The judges called my name for “highly commended”, and I accepted the second-place award. I knew that Belinda’s name would follow mine, as the winner. Sure enough, Belinda was called to the judges to collect the big shiny winner's trophy. Deep down, I was slightly upset, but knew that Belinda really deserved it. She was always there for me throughout the competition and she always did “celebrate to elevate” me.
Belinda, Year 6:
Success and support. Communication and courage. Perseverance and enjoyment. Like saying there are two sides to a story or that there are two perspectives to a picture, I come back to the idea of celebrating the stories behind achievements.
In the Independent Theatre, I sat down in the front row with all the other finalists and reflected upon how lucky I was to have come this far in the Board of Governors’ Music Awards. I thought about going through each round of the competition, nervously waiting for email updates and the never-ending practice to achieve my goals for the next round. Some days, when I picked up my flute, I would struggle, compare myself to others and just plain mess up.
My family soon became so familiar with the pieces that they started quietly humming as I played. Even my dog! He sang and howled along to the high notes and carried the music with him around the house. My family spurred me on, and I became more confident. My Tutor, Mr Jones, led me through my pieces and helped me to perfect (or at least try to perfect) each part of my music.
My friend, Evita, was with me the whole way. I have always valued her as a friend but after going through this process with her it has made me value her even more – her encouraging spirit, her bright smile, that lit up my heart as I stood on stage, her kind words and most of all her continuous support. I don’t know what I would have done without her. Thank you for that, Evita.
Round one. All 12 of the Year 6s who participated in the competition walked to the theatre, ready to play, ready to listen, and ready to win. I was so nervous. Palms sweaty. Stomach full of butterflies. My mind was racing with scary conclusions. “You’ll drop your flute and people will laugh”. “You’ll forget everything”. “You won't get through.” – that was the most daunting thought, and the one I believed the most. But as my name was called, I played my piece, bowed and sat, proud of what I had accomplished. A week later, the email came.
Round two. This round, we played our second piece. For me, this was the piece I had been dreading as it was the harder of the two. It was called Chaconne. Sure, it was a difficult piece and sure, I was bound to mess up but that wasn’t the main thing driving me bonkers. It was what others would think if I made mistakes. That’s when I took my seat next to Evita. She assured me that I would play amazingly well and that she would be there watching and encouraging me. Evita went on talking and every word boosted my spirits. Thank you again Evita.
I can do this.
The Finals. Take a breath and go. Let the music take you and just enjoy the night that awaits …