The Science and Art of Self-Assurance

As our students navigate the complexities of adolescence, nurturing self-assurance and resilience becomes a vital part of their growth. Through recent events at Kilbreda College, our Year 9 students have embraced challenges that foster these qualities, strengthening their confidence through real-world experiences.

On Tuesday 12 November, we celebrated a significant milestone: our Year 9 Celebration of Learning Evening. Students took pride in presenting their achievements, reflecting on their year, and highlighting skills developed through the Bridges Program. Their courage and confidence shone as they shared insights with poise and self-reflection. In her address, Ms Jane Cowan, Year 9 Level Leader, referenced The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse by Charles Mackesy: “Sometimes just getting up and carrying on is brave and magnificent.” This spirit of quiet resilience has underpinned Ms Cowan’s approach throughout the year, encouraging teamwork, inclusion and personal growth. The evening was a powerful showcase of students’ developing self-assurance and their willingness to embrace growth.

The Spring Sleep Out on Friday 8 November offered another opportunity for students to step outside their comfort zones. 28 Year 9 students, along with six staff members, participated in this event to raise awareness and funds for St Vincent De Paul. They spent the night outdoors on cardboard, gaining a small yet meaningful glimpse into the experiences faced by those without stable housing. This act of empathy demonstrated not only resilience but also a deepening sense of purpose, as students reflected on lives beyond their own. Their commitment to understanding and helping others embodied our 2024 college theme, “Hope: Bringing a Sense of Purpose.”

Our Year 9 students further demonstrated resilience on the recent Duke of Edinburgh adventure camp at Wilsons Promontory. Over three days, sixty students faced challenging hikes in windy conditions, learned to surf, camped in tents and cooked meals on Trangia stoves. Each activity tested their endurance and teamwork, fostering personal growth and camaraderie. These experiences left students with a renewed sense of confidence, showing them that resilience is built not in comfort, but in facing and overcoming obstacles.

Research from The Confidence Code: The Science and Art of Self-Assurance by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman reveals that confidence often declines in adolescent girls due to a mix of biological and societal pressures that emphasise caution and perfectionism. Kay and Shipman’s studies show that while girls tend to excel academically, they also face mounting pressures from societal expectations and social media, which can lead to perfectionistic tendencies and reluctance to take risks for fear of failure. As their research notes, “confidence hinges on action.” Each struggle, each attempt, and each moment of recovery strengthens self-belief and builds resilience.

At Kilbreda, we are committed to offering our students experiences that encourage this kind of confidence -born from action, courage, and reflection. Through co-curricular activities, our Outdoor Education Camp Program, and classroom discussions that value diverse viewpoints, we aim to cultivate an environment where students can take healthy risks and grow through active participation.

As exam season approaches, we hope our students remember that resilience is not about perfection but about meeting challenges with determination. As Franklin D Roosevelt reminded us, “A smooth sea never made a skilful sailor.” Every experience, whether preparing for exams or learning to cook on a Trangia stove, offers lessons in resilience and self-assurance. These challenges allow students to build a foundation of self-confidence that will serve them far beyond the classroom.

Through the Celebration of Learning evening, the Spring Sleep Out, the Duke of Edinburgh camp, and the upcoming exams, Kilbreda is nurturing a generation of confident, compassionate and resilient individuals ready to face the world’s challenges. Self-assurance is born in the moments when students take risks, fail and rise again – an art and a science we are proud to support.

Leading in Our Lives

God,
we are your beloved.
Even in our unfinished state,
you take delight in what we are
and what we will become.
Help us to claim for our own your gentle leading in our lives,
help us to know you are always hoping for more for us
and from us.
Give us the strength and peace of heart
to be filled with your power.

– Author Unknown

Stephanie Smyth

Acting Principal