By James Milne, Housemaster of Wing
“Every time you surprise yourself…you inspire yourself.”
Unfortunately, these aren’t my words, they were spoken by global adventurer, Bear Grylls. I do, however, feel that they are apt for Sidcot’s very own global adventurers. This is my 21st year at Sidcot, and my 10th as Housemaster of Wing, and over that time I have seen many new students arrive, wide-eyed and nervous at living in a boarding house with thirty other boys in a completely unknown country. I have seen them embrace change and challenges, learn new skills and make new friends, and I have never failed to be impressed with all they achieve.
This year has been no different as we welcomed fourteen new boys from all over the world into Years 8, 9, 10 and 11 Pathway. It is fair to say they have all surprised themselves over the course of the term in one way or another. Some were worried about making friends, but were soon deep in conversation with roommates over the pool table. Others were apprehensive about being away from parents, but it is now more common that I am fielding requests from parents asking me to remind their sons to phone home now and again. It’s always fun finding out from boys the new skills they have learnt: a common one every year is learning how to change their bed sheets. This year, we have had boys starting to play golf, representing their School for the first time on the rugby pitch, beginning tuba lessons, learning how to cook, using a washing machine, speaking in front of a large group of people, and teaching others about the language and culture of their countries.
Whilst many of them have been surprised with all these new experiences, I have found that the real surprise of Sidcot comes later, over time. It is the growing sense of home that our students feel for their boarding houses and their friends, and it is this feeling that is nurtured over their time with us and keeps them returning to Sidcot years after leaving. Not a year goes by without visitors from the past popping back to catch up and see all the changes around School, and share their experiences post-Sidcot
As we reach the end of this first, and longest, term, I look at my new boys with pride at all they have achieved so far and anticipation that they will go on and continue to surprise themselves with what they are capable of in the future. They will also be here, older and wiser, ready to welcome our new cohort next year, seeing in them reflections of themselves when they arrived in September, knowing all the brilliant surprises that lie ahead.
