The Lord makes firm the steps
of the one who delights in him;
though they may stumble, they will not fall,
for the Lord upholds them with his hand

Psalm 37:23–24

Resilience is one of those qualities that adolescent psychologists have theorised about for the past several decades. Resilience simply means the ability to experience something difficult and bounce back afterwards. We are able to draw upon our store of resilience when things get tough and at the same time build up that store of resilience for the future.

No doubt the recent experience of the Year 8 Camp enabled our Year 8 students to make a big deposit into their bank of resilience. Despite the cold, the constant risk of rain and the (admittedly self-imposed) lack of sleep, the students participated in all the activities with enthusiasm, good humour and warrior spirit. They were supported and cared for by an outstanding group of Kilbreda staff, who went above and beyond in trying conditions.

In a strange kind of way this year level gained more from their camp than they would have if the weather had been warm and the activities easy. They had to overcome significant difficulties, which will help them to confidently approach future challenges such as exams and other personal challenges they may face.

Below are some quotes from Year 8 girls on their camp experiences:

“Year 8 Camp was an amazing experience as it really pushed all of us out of our comfort zones to try something new as well as connecting as a year level. Some of the activities that we did on camp were abseiling, the drop slide, rock climbing, the flying fox and many more. We also completed a series of team-building activities to help us get to know one another as well as meet new people. During our stay at the camp, we learnt some survival skills and got really in touch with nature. Overall, the camp was an amazing opportunity, and I enjoyed every part of it.”   

“Overall Year 8 Camp was a great experience, and I loved every moment of it.”

“Over our stay, we faced situations where we were forced to challenge ourselves and try new things.”

“We participated in team activities that got us to collaborate and problem solve. At camp, we got the chance to meet new people and spend time as a year level.”

We hope that the confidence and resilience that has been built during the Year 8 Camp will be a resource for all of our Year 8 students to draw from as they take on the inevitable challenges at school for the rest of this year and beyond.

Bill Fitzsimons
Level Leader: Year 8