United We Stand

Human beings are naturally social creatures. Tribe, village, community, society, band and club, are just some of the words that conjure images of people interacting together in a variety of ways. Likewise, a school may be viewed as a microcosm of the society in which we live. Increasingly, the way we connect with one another has extended beyond a simple face-to-face interaction. Nevertheless, it is this simple act of striking up a conversation with another that has tremendous impact on our wellbeing and when we multiply these interactions over and over, the ripple effect they have is immeasurable. Indeed, research suggests that forming positive relationships is the single most important factor to an individual’s wellbeing. Moreover, positive emotions as a by-product of positive relationships, propagates further social connections. Certainly, this is demonstrated with regularity at Pacific both in and out of the classroom. We must be mindful though to avoid the trap of trying to be someone we are not, simply to gain acceptance. Ultimately this type of relationship does not stand the test of time. E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web tells a tale of the bond between Wilbur, a pig and Charlotte, a barn spider. Charlotte perfectly encapsulates the positivity of true friendship when she says to Wilbur, “You have been my friend. That in itself is a tremendous thing”.

Unfortunately, though, there are occasions when relationships become fractured and there is a need to acknowledge fault in our words or actions towards one another. This requires remorse, courage and forgiveness. We must remind ourselves though that we all share a common bond as members of the Pacific community and it is our positive relationships that increase school connectedness. It is because of this bond that we unite as one this Friday 15^th March to take a stand against bullying and violence, ensuring that Pacific remains a place of peace in every sense of the word.

Mr Ben Ryan, Director of Students