46 | INSIGHT
BALANCING ACT PROVIDING A BALANCED EDUCATION HAS ALWAYS BEEN CENTRAL TO THE ETHOS OF BBC. PREPARING BOYS FOR THE FUTURE BY DEVELOPING SKILLS SUCH AS FLEXIBILITY OF MIND, STRENGTH OF CHARACTER AND SOCIAL SKILLS IS EQUALLY AS IMPORTANT AS SECURING A GOOD ACADEMIC RESULT. IN THIS EDITION OF COLLEGIAN, OUR CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST JUDITH LOCKE EXPLORES THE NOTION OF SUCCESS IN A WORLD WHERE WE ARE OFTEN MEASURED BY OUR ACHIEVEMENTS ALONE.
As a clinical psychologist in private practice,
academic content and assessment; however, it
personally or as a part of a team or group? Have
I treat a lot of clients with stress and burnout
is not the only indicator. The personal qualities
they got a generally positive attitude that allows
issues. Would it surprise you to know I am
a student has developed give a much better
them to be in the moment, but plan a little for the
seeing these issues increasingly in school age or
sense of who they are and what they are likely
future, and not ruminate on the past?
university age clients?
to accomplish. More importantly, it is highly
The answers to these questions need to
There appears to be increasing pressure
likely that if they have only focused on achieving
be included when determining your child’s
on children at school and a lot of it centres on
academic success, they have lost a lot of
accomplishments. Your own success is not only
working toward one goal – achieving a good OP
opportunities to develop other strengths and are
measured by your numbers (your salary, your
score. It’s a shame there is such an emphasis
more likely to be facing the risk of burnout or
weight etc.) and if you did worry about only one
on this particular aspect of a child’s schooling.
difficulty in living a balanced life.
of your numbers, it is highly likely that the quality
While a good OP score typically means the child
There are many other good indicators of
has worked hard and developed study skills,
achievement for your child. Have they got a good
of the rest of your life would be reduced as you
the usefulness of a good OP score pretty much
attitude to learning and are genuinely interested
Your child should end up with so much
runs out the moment they are accepted into the
in knowing more about the world and improving
more than an academic record when they leave
university they want to attend. It is probably the
their knowledge? Have they learnt cooperation
school. Scholarly success is not the only area of
most emphasised but least useful measure of a
and social skills? Have they developed their moral
accomplishment that is important to our sense
child.
toiled at the gym or the workplace.
compass and are they actively seeking to make
of self and our contribution to the world. We
What your child ends up with at school
the world a better place? Are they starting to
need to make sure we are actively encouraging
is not just a number. It is a range of qualities
shake off the egocentricity of youth and thinking
the development of all the potential positive
and character traits, which will stand them in
equally of the needs of their community as well
traits in our children so as to give them the best
good stead for living a happy, productive and
as their own desires? Have they got sporting and
chance for a good and happy life.
balanced life. The OP score is one indicator of
other interests they don’t only pursue for glory,
their success in mastering a particular type of
but because they genuinely enjoy the activity,
continued overleaf