WHAT THE WORLD COULD LEARN FROM 1100 YOUNG PEOPLE AND ONE INCREDIBLE COLLEGIAN

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At the end of Term 3, I had the privilege of attending the Round Square International Conference alongside eight Scotch Oakburn College students. The event brought together more than 1,100 students from over 150 schools representing more than 30 countries and every inhabited continent except Antarctica.

The scale of the gathering was impressive, but what left the greatest impression was something far simpler: the way young people connected with one another.

The timing was also significant, as our College community was reflecting on the life of  the Honourable Don Wing AM, a man whose life exemplified kindness, humility, respect and service. As I watched students from every corner of the globe interact, I was reminded that these seemingly simple qualities possess an extraordinary capacity to change lives and strengthen communities.

These students came from vastly different backgrounds, cultures, religions, languages and traditions. Yet within a remarkably short period of time, barriers seemed to disappear. Conversations flowed naturally, friendships formed effortlessly and connections were established that will likely endure long after the event concluded.

The experience was a powerful demonstration of the Round Square IDEALS: International Understanding, Democracy, Environmental Stewardship, Adventure, Leadership and Service. More importantly, these ideals were not simply discussed, they were lived. Students listened with curiosity, embraced new experiences, respected differing perspectives and actively looked for opportunities to support others.

As I observed the interactions taking place around me, I was struck by the overwhelming sense of kindness and respect that defined the week. These were not isolated moments or carefully orchestrated activities. They were evident in conversations between strangers, in the way students welcomed one another into groups and in the genuine interest they showed in understanding experiences very different from their own.

For the adults in attendance, the experience offered something equally valuable. At a time when public discourse can often feel divided and confrontational, these young people provided a compelling alternative. They demonstrated that differences need not create division and that mutual respect can flourish even when perspectives vary.

The week also challenged a common tendency that affects us all. Human beings are naturally wired to notice what is wrong more readily than what is right. Too often we focus on criticism ahead of encouragement and problems ahead of possibilities.

What I witnessed was the opposite.

I saw young people choosing kindness over judgement. I saw respect shown without expectation of reward. I saw students seeking understanding rather than conflict. Most importantly, I saw hope for the future.

Perhaps that is the real lesson from both these remarkable young people and the life of Don Wing. The challenges facing our world may be increasingly complex, but the foundations of strong communities remain remarkably simple: kindness, respect, humility and service.

If more of us chose those values as our starting point, whether in our communities, workplaces, schools or nations, the world would undoubtedly be a better place. The 1,100 young people gathered at this year’s Round Square International Conference, together with the example of one remarkable Collegian whose life we recently celebrated, reminded me exactly what that future could look like.

Ross Patterson
Principal