Miss Handford's Reflections

As we draw this half term to a close, our theme of the week has been ‘motivation’. At the end of a busy few weeks, it’s easy to feel tired and a little low on energy. Fortunately, with the half term break just around the corner, we all have the chance to rest, recharge, and return with renewed purpose and motivation.

During boarders’ reflections this week, we explored motivation in an unusual setting, not in chapel, but at the top of the climbing wall! Chaplain Katie challenged us to encourage one another to reach the top, even if it felt daunting. Many of us found that the support and cheerleading of our peers motivated us, as did the promise of the sense of achievement waiting at the top. Chaplain Katie added an extra spur of motivation with the offer of café vouchers for the winning team.

While a sweet treat and a hot drink from our wonderful catering team certainly gave us a boost, extrinsic rewards are only one kind of motivation. Just as powerful, and often more so, is the motivation that comes from within. Taking time to understand our values, our sense of purpose, and what truly matters to us can help us act even when we feel tired or stretched. For our Year 11 and Year 13 students, this might mean keeping in mind the future careers they aspire to, which in turn motivates them to complete homework and revise for exams.

So, my challenge to the whole school community this half term is to pause, reflect, and reconnect with our own values. In doing so, we may find a deeper source of motivation to carry us into an exciting half term ahead.

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