8 minute read
Education Update - Nick Johnstone
by Focus
focus_contributor.
EDUCATION UPDATE
with NICK JOHNSTONE
FROM BISHOP DRUITT COLLEGE
Grow in 2022 with a mentor
Mentors come in many forms throughout an individual’s life, and you’re never too young to fi nd someone to connect with on key decisions and choices in school, work and life. When I started teaching in 1993, I learned by accident over the fi rst fi ve years that mentors are important for my own career development, and as a leader, to capitalise on the greatest organisational resource, being the ‘human’ resource. Equally important is the role mentoring plays for students as they’re making milestone choices about the person that they are becoming, the path they’re taking, and the choices they’re making.
In this article, I thought I would share some key learnings I have gathered from my mentors over the years, and perhaps inspire you to seek a mentor for yourself, or your child, in 2022 and beyond.
Believe and invest in yourself
Short courses, conferences and degree courses are all fantastic and in the age of Zoom they are so accessible. I have thoughtfully invested in my academic professional career over the years, with one of my mentors expressing to me that it was essential that I invest in myself. What I didn’t realise until recently was that this also meant investing more time with my family and on my health.
In the age of social media, my professional learning network has also developed to include building my learnings through LinkedIn and Twitter. Just don’t get lost in these platforms.
It is also essential to become a reader. I try to digest one book per month, mostly professional texts and biographies, but studies show it is essential to continue to read some fi ction.
Look after the small things, and the big things look after themselves
One of my fi rst mentors shared this piece of wisdom with me. I was teaching in a conservative independent school in Queensland at the time. He explained that if staff address the little things such as how you speak with your student or focus on minor uniform issues and behavioural issues then bigger issues wouldn’t develop. While this address isn’t strictly true, it did hold true for me in my fi rst decade as a classroom teacher.
Pay it forward
As you become a leader in whatever profession you desire, I encourage you to also pay it forward and become a mentor as well. This might be through your workplace, within your wider family unit, through community sport or at your local school. The world is crying out for positive role models to balance the blur from youth platforms such as TikTok.
So how do you fi nd the right mentor for you?
What I have learned is that as your needs grow and evolve, you will need more than one mentor. Don’t go looking for “the one” but instead glean from a host of different people’s attitudes and actions and fi nd a set of professional mentors that can support you as a critical friend. Firstly, you need to have values that align with your
In the age of mentor’s values. If they social media, don’t align then the my professional relationship is doomed learning network from the start. The has also developed values I seek relate to to include building mutual respect, trust, my learnings compassion, professional through LinkedIn work ethic and integrity and Twi er. Just of decision making. don’t get lost in I should also note these platforms. here that your mentor doesn’t necessarily have to be in the same fi eld or even city as you. Secondly, they need to have a desire to help others, an ability to commit to the relationship, and a willingness to share their own personal failures and experiences. A mentoring relationship is a ‘joint venture’ that requires both the mentor and mentee to create a meaningful and benefi cial relationship, and it takes time and commitment, but it is well worth the effort.
Players under the age of 18 may be eligible to apply for the Active kids voucher and reduce fees by $100. No travelling involved. All games are held at “Vost Park” Netball Courts. Saturday Juniors will play at the same time each week from 12pm and seniors will play at 6:30 or 7:30 Wednesday nights. Net Set Go Skills program for 5-7 year olds starts 7 May Brand new International courts - Join us for the Grand Opening ceremony on Saturday 26 February from 3pm-7pm for lots of fun and entertainment and the official opening ceremony by Pat Conaghan.
“COME AND TRY ME” DAYS WILL BE HELD ON 12 AND 19 FEBRUARY AT THE “VOST PARK” NETBALL COURTS, MURRAY DRIVE COFFS HARBOUR FROM 11:00- 12:30PM.
Training: Tuesdays from 4pm e. southsnetball@gmail.com @southsnetballclub southsnetball We urge all new players considering the game to come down and have a go. Registration days will be held at the clubhouse on 12 and 19 February from 12pm-2pm for players requiring assistance and wishing to try on and collect uniforms.
Training Thursdays from 4pm e. stnc1@hotmail.com @SawtellToorminaNetty sawtell_toormina_netball
Training Wednesdays from 4pm e. westsidenetball1@gmail.com @westsidenetball1 westside_netball Seniors 14+ only e. surfsidebreakersnc @gmail.com surfsidenetballclub
focus_interview
Jesse CLACK
Jesse Clack has been hooked on tennis since his mum bought him his fi rst racket when he was four years old. He plays and trains as o en as he can and his mum describes him as a walking encyclopaedia when it comes to scores and facts about tennis! He is passionate about the game and his determination is certainly taking him places!
Hi Jesse, can you introduce yourself to us?
Hi, my name’s Jesse, I’m 9 years old and I live in Bellingen. I’m in year 4 at St Mary’s Primary School and I love to play tennis!
How long have you been playing tennis for?
My mum bought my fi rst racket at the Vinnies op shop in Dorrigo when I was 4, and as soon as we got home that day I just kept hitting balls across the paddock that my mum would throw to me!
I began having tennis lessons at Tiebreak Tennis in Bellingen when I was 5 years old with the coaches Keiron and Jarred, who really encouraged me to play, and I began competing in tournaments when I was 6.
I joined the Baylis Tennis Academy at Sawtell two years ago and my tennis has kept improving with the great coaches there, and from playing against all the other great junior players.
What do you love about it?
I have a lot of fun! I play against kids of all
My tennis dreams are to win all the Grand Slams and become ages and have made World Number 1 some day, but even if some great friendships through tennis. Tennis is also a really fun I don’t I will still workout! I always have train really hard. a lot of energy to burn and I love running around the court, having good rallies and fi nding the winning shots! I also like watching the Grand Slam tournaments on TV.
How often do you train?
I train after school 3 days a week at Sawtell,
with a private lesson, squad training and a weekly competition night. Sometimes I play tennis with school friends on the weekend at Bellingen too!
And how often do you compete in tournaments?
Every chance I can! At least every fortnight during the tournament season, and sometimes it can be every weekend! Fortunately most tournaments are in Coffs Harbour and Sawtell, but I travel all over the Mid North Coast too. In November I played at the Champion of Champions event in Inverell, along with some of my other team mates from Sawtell.
Do you have a favourite tennis moment so far? Or an achievement you’re really proud of?
I’ve just qualified for the North East Teams event in the U11s which I’m really excited about, but my favourite moments so far were
being the point score winner for my age group in the Achieve Anything Superseries two years in a row. That made me really happy!
Do you have any idols or people that inspire you?
Roger Federer is my tennis idol and my absolute favourite player! Rafa Nadal is my second favourite! I really enjoy following all the professional players though. My mum says I’m a walking encyclopaedia of tennis. I’m always keeping track of the scores of the players in the big tournaments, it interests me a lot! My dad and I love to watch tennis together. We love to watch the shots the players do and we say that’s what I have to learn to do too. I practice the shots on the court. Sometimes I get it right but sometimes I get it wrong. I’ll just keep practising until I get it right so I can move on to the next thing.
Do you play any other sport?
I love playing table tennis against my mum at home! She’s the best player I know! I love to use my pogo stick and my record is 136 bounces! I like playing handball as well. My dad used to play soccer and sometimes we go to the field to have a kick around. It’s always really fun.
What are your dreams for the future?
My tennis dreams are to win all the Grand Slams and become World Number 1 some day, but even if I don’t I will still train really hard. I’d at least like to win the Australian Open!
