At Eddies we aim to create in our young men the drive to become lifelong learners. To some that know me — particularly my family — my lifelong learning comes across as being annoyingly curious. So many questions need answering. Much to the consternation of various family members, there’s a never-ending interrogation while outstretched and relaxing during many a half-watched Netflix or Stan — or insert streaming service of choice here — show. Who’s that bloke? What’s that person doing? Why? Who’s that bloke again? Equally aggravating can be my, what’s this song? Who sings this? Is this rap or country? sequence whenever a Spotify playlist is hitting its stride and a preferred melody blares from the carefully placed Bluetooth speakers on the bench.
In listening to the experience of a new parent just the other day I was struck by yet another question that needed answering. Why do newborn babies stare so intently? At the ceiling, at a toy, into the loving face of mum or dad. The answer for the annoyingly curious is that at two months of age apparently the control of a baby’s vision is slowly transferred from one part of the brain to another. During this time the two areas battle, so to speak, for control, so baby can get stuck in a prolonged concentrated gaze. A no doubt happy encounter if it’s mum’s or dad’s smiling face. However, should the focus of such jammed-up vision be a beige or off-white wall in the lounge room, perhaps not so interesting.
To newborns the world must be an incredible place. In a frenzy of annoying dad curiosity, I also learned that as we age the lenses in our eyes yellow so blue light is slightly filtered out. To babies, who have freshly made, clear lenses, the world is intensely coloured and really, really bright. Incredibly, babies initially hear echoes everywhere. It’s only as their brain develops that they begin to filter out these echoes so eventually their experience of hearing is just like ours. Tastes are all new, smells are novel, and every tiny movement is an adventure. Each minute then, is an explosion of new experience and of learning.
This morning (Thursday) we gathered for breakfast to launch the Future Pathways Program. Some thirteen Year 11 Eddies Men have been paired with mentors from their chosen fields. Mentors, successful professionals, representing pathways as diverse as paediatric occupational therapy and mechatronics engineering, generously giving the benefit of their time and experience.
Over the next three months our young men will work with their mentor to deeply explore this occupation of their choice. Each student will engage in a research project, creating a presentation that showcases their mentor and the field of endeavour they have decided to pursue. They will investigate, discuss, read, draw conclusions and make comments. They will learn. This program allows our young men to look deeply into a future that could be theirs. To answer those questions that need answering. For some it will cement the first steps in a professional journey, for others it may open their eyes and direct them to another path. The Future Pathways Program has for the past sixteen years given our students a unique experience. I look forward to the evening three months from now when we see presentations that are fruits of research, collaboration and hard work. I wish all our young men in the Future Pathways Program the best over the next few months.
For all our Eddies Men we aspire to create an environment where it’s good to be curious, it is all right to have questions and even better to seek answers. As our young men move into the world of employment and tertiary study, being prepared to continue to learn is imperative. To critically view an intensely coloured and bright world, through the lenses of an Eddies Man who is continually adapting and developing, using, building and improving skills. Our motto “Possunt Quia Posse Videntur” (they can because they see they can) will always hold true. In understanding that there are always questions that need answering, that curiosity isn’t necessarily annoying, that learning never ends, our young men, no matter what pathway they choose, will always know that Eddies Men can.
Year 12 Formal
This evening we will hold our Year 12 formal. This event is one of the milestones of the Senior year. Our young men and their partners dressed in all their finery will celebrate together at the Civic Centre. With dinner and, no doubt, dancing, I trust a good time will be had by all.
