Welcome back to our wonderful Kolbe Catholic College community for Semester Two! I hope that the semester ahead will bring your children success, and a sense of achievement and belonging in all facets of their life. Our staff community believes strongly that our school must be a beacon of hope, joy and positivity for our students. This is often easier in words than in action as the lives of teenagers today can be incredibly complex, with many internal and external pressures being placed upon them. To be fair, I think many of us would argue that this trend is also being experienced by adults – in our homes, in the workplace and in society generally.
With this in mind, it is no surprise that our news and social media feeds can often be filled with bad news stories and statistics. It is far easier to write sensational headlines to sell publications or get ‘clicks’ by advertising fear or animosity. This is often at the expense of all the good that is happening in our world, and I am so conscious that our students need to feel positive and optimistic about their current and future world. With this in mind, I stumbled across a story that filled my cup today – which shows a beautiful example of not just the love and care present in the world, but just how impactful one decision of kindness can be. This is the beautiful story of Wanda Dench and Jamal Hinton.
For the sake of brevity (you can read the full story here), Wanda, a grandmother from Arizona, sent an accidental text message to a stranger (Jamal Hinton) inviting them for Thanksgiving dinner, believing the number belonged to a family member. From a chance encounter ensued an ongoing relationship, developed between two total strangers who embraced the values of belonging, love and dignity. I strongly encourage you to read the beautiful and inspirational story above.
You might be wondering why I shared this particular story with our community. For me, this is a world I want our students (and families) to know exists. That kindness, love and empathy are qualities that are present in the world. It also should serve as a reminder to all of us, that we are called to act in these manners, as Jesus taught us to do. For it is in giving to others, that we receive fullness in our lives. We walk past moments of beauty and wonder daily, often taking them for granted. Opportunities to impact others in a positive way are presented to us frequently. How we choose to respond can not only affect the world of others, but will also have a profound effect on the sense of joy and belonging we feel. Let’s encourage our children to acknowledge the love, beauty and splendour present in the world – and let’s start by seeking to experience it ourselves.