PrefectsYear 13The Last WordLeadershipAssembly
Robbie Nichol, 16 June 2026
The Last Word
If you think of the thing you're most proud of, how much of it was really because of you?
You may say all of it. After all, it is through your hard work, determination, and perseverance that your success has been achieved, whether that success be getting a good grade or just getting through the day. And, to an extent, that's true.
But if you think more deeply, could it really just be yourself? After all, you probably couldn't get that good grade if someone else hadn't developed the concepts, couldn't play that sport if someone didn't drive you to the games, and couldn't play that song without someone writing it first.
Behind every success is a long line of people you probably didn't even think about. Years of previous work have laid the foundations that allow you to succeed today, often in ways you don't even notice. Your parents, caregivers, and family members may have sacrificed greatly for future stability and may have given up their own opportunities to create a better future for you. Nobody goes through life independently. Everybody is building on something that already existed.
At times in my life, there have been moments when I have almost given up on things that later led me to success. These weren't only major decisions; they were also everyday choices that compounded over time into something greater. I wasn't going to give up because things were too hard. Instead, it was self-doubt, fear of what others might think, fear of the unknown, or simply a lack of motivation. But because of the people around me who, knowingly or unknowingly, encouraged me to continue, I was able to achieve success in my life. I remain very grateful to them because of that. How can I claim those successes entirely as my own when they may never have happened without the people who encouraged me along the way?
So, what's my point?
It's not that you shouldn't be proud of your success because you couldn't have achieved it by yourself. Rather, you should recognise the roles that others have played in your success and how their contributions have shaped your life and the success you've been able to create for yourself and others. The people around you shape you more than you realise.
Be proud of your success, but don't forget those who helped you achieve it. And don't miss the opportunity to encourage success in others when it arises, because someone in this school has probably done that for you, whether you know it or not.
I want to end with this quote, which I believe shows that even the greatest people did not get there alone:
"If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." — Isaac Newton