NEWS
EMBRACE THE OPPORTUNITIES WHOLEHEARTEDLY
School Captain , Nik Tsourvakas , addressed the School in Assembly early in Term 1 . This is an edited extract of Nik ’ s address .
SCHOOL CAPTAIN NIK TSOURVAKAS WITH JUNIOR SCHOOL CAPTAIN THOMAS FINDLAY
Welcome back to what we can all only hope will be a year filled with more certainty and stability at our School than in 2020 . I hope our Years 11 and 12 boys have had a restful yet productive break , and that they have come back prepared to put their heads down and work .
Boys : your VCE journey will fly by : so work hard , but also ensure that you get plenty of down time .
I hope our Year 9s and 10s have also enjoyed their holidays , and have experienced some of the things they missed out on during the lockdown period last year , such as seeing family and loved ones and taking part in more outdoor activities .
A special welcome to new boys and new staff who are yet to find their own places within the Scotch Family . Scotch is , I assure you , a close-knit community , and one which will support and welcome you . All of us , with our individual contributions , our own talents and passions , enrich this school . There is no ‘ one size fits all ’ mould to adapt to ; no one ideal Scotch Family member . Just be yourself , unapologetically , and I am sure you will find your place in this welcoming family .
If I were to give you one piece of advice to aid your Scotch journey , it would be to make the most of every second of your time here . My feelings are summarised in a quote I read from Sydney J . Harris , an American journalist , who said : ‘ Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time ; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable ’. As Harris says , regret for what we did in the past is something we can always get over , but regret for opportunities we did not take up will haunt us , as we will forever be left wondering what could have been .
So please , when opportunities come up at Scotch this year , whether it be a science trip , trying badminton , picking up a new musical instrument , public speaking , house chess – whatever it may be – embrace the opportunity wholeheartedly , because when your time here is over , you don ' t want to be the one left with regrets .
Vice Captain Alex Meggitt , your Prefects and I are here not for positions or status , but to help and work with you in our shared commitment to uphold the standards of our School . We are always up for a chat . Whether you want to talk to me about a new initiative you think would enhance Scotch , or about how amazing the ‘ Pies were at the weekend – or even about how everything worthwhile in this world was created by Greeks – we ’ re waiting to hear your views
NIK TSOURVAKAS – SCHOOL CAPTAIN
26 Great Scot Issue 162 – April 2021