From Br Steve Hogan fsc
An Oakhill graduate has their feet firmly grounded, aims for the stars, and knows that life’s journey will not always be clearly defined, straight or predictable.
An Oakhill graduate knows that they have strength of spirit that enables them to rise above the fleeting things to engage life consciously.
An Oakhill graduate always strives for what matters, looks out for the other, is up for the challenge, keeps the faith, is good and kind, and just, and know they contribute to God’s Kingdom.
On Thursday 25th September our Year 12, 2025 graduated as the Oakhill Graduate.
As Laozi, a famous Chinese Philosopher at the time of Confucius once said: "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step".
Our good friend Master Shifu said to panda bear: “If you only do what you can do, you will never be something more”.
So, to all students I encourage, go do something more.
John Wooden, a renowned US basketball coach, says: “Success is the peace of mind attained through self-satisfaction in knowing you have made every effort to be and do the best you can”.
JFK, President of the USA called every citizen to a process of becoming in his inspiring Rice Moon speech, Rice University, Houston, Texas. “The New Frontier is here, whether we seek it or not. I am asking each of you to be pioneers on that New Frontier”.
What I ask of all students, is to meet those challenges with head held high, heart wide open, and to be good, be kind, be just in all you think, do and say.
At the Graduation Ceremony for the Class of 2025, I shared the following from two teen life coaches, John Wooden and Will Elliott, which I believe relate well to the Oakhill Graduate:
1. Don’t obsess over comparing yourself to others. Growth isn’t linear, so don’t compare your journey to someone else’s. Never focus on being better than someone else and always be ready and willing to learn from others. Be the best YOU that you can be. Be good, be kind, be just. Don’t obsess over comparing yourself to others.
2. Don’t worry about what you cannot control. If you get engrossed and concerned about what you cannot control, it will negatively affect what you do about the things you can control.
3. There’s no such thing as failure – just opportunities to learn and try again.
4. There’s always going to be something new to want and strive for – find fulfillment within – find contentment with who you are.
5. Who you are is more important than what you achieve. Your worth isn’t attached to your results. It is great to be proud of your achievements, but who you are as a person means more. You are already whole, complete, and enough. (Barb Schimidt)
6. There are no shortcuts to success, just hard work. Be consistently gritty.
In summary, be confident that as a student of Oakhill College or as an Oakhill Graduate you have what it takes to be the successful you that you can and ought to be.
It is all about character – being that good person you are, values intact as your guide and compass through life. Franklin D Roosevelt in 1910 wrote 'The Man in the Arena' - do you have the grit to take what life throws up, to give 100% and then more, to pick yourself up and others around you. Of course you do – that is the stuff of being an Oakhill Student/Graduate.
You have what it takes to be that person because …
You are firmly grounded, knowing life’s journey is not always predictable or clearly defined.
You have strength of spirit and strive for what matters, looking out for the other.
You are up for the challenge.
You are good and kind, and just in all you think, do and say.
I wish you all a happy restful holiday and look forward to your return on Monday 13th October with grit and determination to step up and reach for that 10% more, finishing the year 2025 having achieved your best.
Br Steve Hogan fsc
Principal
