Great Scot September 2018 Gt Scot_154_September_online | Page 57

Boarding
BEING A PART OF
SOMETHING BIGGER
THAN YOURSELF
DIGBY VIAL (YEAR 9), LACHLAN CLARK (YEAR 7), JOSHUA CHEUNG (YEAR 9), OSCAR WANG
(YEAR 9), THOMAS WHITING (CAPTAIN OF THE HILL)
At the special Assembly in August at which the School honoured our
greatest Old Boy, Sir John Monash, the Principal reflected on the values
that underpin our School and how such values contribute to a culture of
service and sacrifice.
As I pondered the success of Monash, and the role Scotch played
in developing his character, I considered how boarding, by necessity,
requires both service and sacrifice. Whether it be the requirements of
sharing a room or working together to win the Wedderburn Trophy, or
giving up freedoms the day students have, when you are a boarder you
are very much part of something bigger than yourself.
Martin Seligman, considered the pioneer of positive psychology,
writes: ‘Just as the good life is something beyond the pleasant life, the
meaningful life is beyond the good life’. A successful boarding house
is one where boys have a sense of belonging and, through tradition
and effective leadership, a culture of inclusivity is paramount. Boarders
should feel as though they are part of a community, that they are part of
something bigger than themselves.
Indeed, as individualism and self-interest appear to be ever-increasing
phenomena in society, and the question, ‘what’s in it for me?’ occurs
with frightening regularity, I ponder: how can we get boys to think beyond
their immediate gratification and self-interest? Perhaps it is by living in
a community where boys are, through strong bonds with peers and
an established House identity, necessarily a small cog in a much more
complex organism. Hopefully, we are able to help mould the young lives in
our care so they are both reflective and considerate, and leave our gates
with a desire to contribute to the greater good, influencing those around
them for the better, in the image of our greatest Old Boy.
On a recent tram ride back from an MCG game, I happened to be
sitting next to a young man from Asia who was studying computer
science at Deakin University. Eager for conversation, we began talking
about our day, mine spent watching sport (my daughter’s footy game in
the morning, the Hawks in the afternoon) and his, spent alone catching a
tram into the city and then out to Brighton to see the beach, in a desire to
experience some typical ‘Australian’ culture.
Our conversation reminded me of the various challenges our
international students face and the huge commitment families from all
backgrounds make when sending their sons to board. My new companion
was, perhaps, a little lonely, as he had spent the day on his own and
was clearly up for a chat. I established that he shared a house with a few
friends, but they often did their own things on weekends, leaving him
to explore Melbourne alone. Again, I reflected on the importance of the
structures and systems we have in place here for our boarding students;
the organised activities, the orientation programs and the importance of a
welcoming and engaging culture.
By pure coincidence, the next morning I found myself having breakfast
with one of our international boarders, Joshua from Hong Kong, who
was up early to ensure he got to church on time. Josh and I chatted
about his weekend and how things were going in general, and he quickly
volunteered he was really enjoying the term because he was, once again,
sharing a room with his three best friends (a boy from USA, one from a
farm in regional Victorian and the third from China).
He proudly told me theirs was the best room in the best House on the
Hill. He also loved Term 3 because he played soccer, even though he was
not in the top team and they had only won a couple of games. He loved the
game and was a bit sad that the season had ended. Evidently, Josh was not
lonely or isolated, and it was clear he felt very connected to Scotch.
It was a nice reminder that many of our boys, among the various
challenges of living in a community of 180 people, are flourishing, and
we are indeed fortunate to have been entrusted to contribute to their
education and upbringing.
TIM BYRNES — DEAN OF BOARDING
www.scotch.vic.edu.au Great Scot
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