The best way to stand out from the crowd is to stand for something special.
In memory of Abrie de Swardt by Tessa Kruger
This is with sad regret that we at eta College George has lost a dear Colleague Abrie de Swardt who died while participating in a fundraising event, a rowing marathon to raise funds for the Kwagga Trust. He was a former learner at Outeniqua High School and was a very proud Kwagga.
He was a passionate and loyal sports person in the George community. Abrie was well known in the South African athletics circles, as well as the South African athletics coach that participated in the Olympics. He was an over achiever that set himself high standards and goals, and this very nature he immersed himself into all aspects of South African sport.
His students benefitted by his practical experience and all the stories he could share from all his travels overseas. Abrie will be greatly missed by students and staff as he always lived life to the fullest. Our condolences to his wife Sharon and his two sons Abrie Junior and Martin.
“Those we love can never be more than a thought away, for as long as there’s a memory they live in our hearts to stay!”
Continuing with our strategic plan:
One of the eta College goals is to launch a social Justice project:
In response to national and international calls for social justice, we need to consider the social, political, and historical context in which our students education occurs, eta needs to address how we respond to this call for social justice. Our aim is to embark on a process of reform, encouraging all stakeholders to participate. From this, we plan a way forward in terms of change, what will change and how we will integrate these changes into our educational planning. This will be ongoing and eta NAT team will have to report back to the SJ teams in terms of the achievement of the proposed outcomes. Reports on outcomes and progress will be ongoing.
Each campus to embark on a process of engagement with staff and students through online and face to face meetings. Suggested guidelines to be provided by Linda. Each campus to nominate and agree a representative to drive the process in their campus. Linda to hold workshops with all.
Recommended reading / podcasts / webinars
Chapter 1. WHY SURVIVING TO THRIVING? (Continued from last week)
The strongest will survive; the most adaptive will thrive
Charles Darwin reputedly said the strongest will survive and the most adaptive will thrive. I think his words still apply. To survive we must be strong, but to thrive we need to adapt sooner and faster. Reflect on the Corona virus pandemic and the devastating uncertainty, anxiety, and loss it caused. I suggest the components of mental toughness could help you adapt sooner and faster.
Thought process
Ask yourself, “Am I trapped in a period of paralysis? Have my mental abilities to think, pay attention, reason, remember, imagine, problem solve and make judgements been compromised by anxiety or pressure? Can I use this time to reinvent and thrive, how do I go from fragile to agile? Can I become a better more compassionate person? In what ways can I rekindle passion, try new ideas, build new competitive advantages, form synergistic partnerships, show more composure, increase energy and intensity, rebuild confidence, take some calculated risks, grow my competence and show true grit? These questions highlight aspects of mental toughness that will move you towards thriving.
Clearly, adapting to a state of thriving is still as tough as it has always been – if not tougher! Many do not adapt and like a bunch of grapes, they wither on the vine.
My observation is that most of us express the desire to thrive and do not want to settle for surviving. However, few dedicate themselves to identifying and implementing the adaptations needed to bring their thrive aspiration into reality. Instead they either heap blame on others for their lack of thriving or behave like a hamster on a wheel by repeating the same surviving cycle, faster.
How have you adapted to the pressure from the pandemic? Write to us and let us know.
