When asked to reflect on a time of disruption and change, a number of different moments come to mind, but none as influential to my narrative self-development as the transition from Primary School (year 6) to High School (year 7). Though it seems like a minor move, I believe it was an extremely important step for the younger me to take, and it cannot be understated how crucial this was to my growth as a person. I am able to credit a number of milestones in my life to all that I learnt from my six years of high school. 

I went to a small primary school in the Wollongong Area, with only 150 students. As a child, I was nervous and quiet, and stuck to my small group of friends. My interests were sports, toys and general fun, and I was not interested in anything that I didn’t find enjoyable or cool. At school, just like all other students, I learnt mathematics, english and science, developing a basic understanding of these topics. Overall, primary school was a mostly easy, fun experience.

Then, in 2013, I began my high schooling at Edmund Rice College, a Catholic Private school. Edmund Rice was far stricter than primary, requiring I wear a tie, suit pants and a tucked in button-up shirt every day. Our loosely structured classes were now 6 50-minute periods a day focused on subjects such as geography, history and religion. At Edmund Rice, we would have weekly masses or assemblies, we had to carry a diary everywhere, and were taught discipline, both in our outward appearance and presentation, and our behaviour, time management and task-solving skills. With this rigid system also came assessments, which had to be completed and submitted by specific dates. 

Reflecting On Change

When reflecting back on this change, I’m reminded of a quote from Remembering (2002) by Shona Russell and Maggie Carey, which states that ‘people become people through other people’. They claim that our identities are shaped by all of the relationships and voices that surround us, that we are products of our environment. 

After examining this experience with this quote in mind, it is clear to me that although this was at first a nerve-racking disruption to my simple schooling, it was extremely important to my development into a hard-working young adult. Each class, though focused primarily on a specific subject, was also there to teach me life skills such as problem-solving, writing and time-management. Without these skills and teachings from Edmund Rice, I might not have had the successes I have had in life, such as going to university. Edmund Rice also let me develop my confidence, eventually becoming House Captain and building strong friendships with my peers. 

Reflecting back on my time in Primary School, I was noticeably more naive and unaware of the world around me, only focused on my friends and having fun. Moving to Edmund Rice for Year 7 was a nerve-racking, scary experience, however, it was also extremely exciting and fun. I learnt a lot of valuable life lessons, built my confidence up, made a number of strong relationships and earned a number of achievements and awards.

Upon re-examining this disruption, it is clear to me that all of the skills that I learnt from my time at High School are skills that I have used as a professional in the workplace. Even if I couldn’t see it at the time, all of the teachers and staff were there to help me succeed. Without the students around me, my interpersonal skills would be far more limited, as being around 208 people 5 days a week forced me to interact with these people, learning how to talk and behave politely and friendly around them (even if we didn’t get along). The teachers and staff, though strict, were strong role models for me to learn from, providing help and encouragement whenever I needed it, allowing me to grow.

Key Learnings About Remembering

When analysing this experience, it is easy to see how much this disruption to my schooling affected me. I experienced a boost of confidence and self-awareness and learnt a wide range of skills and lessons that I have remembered and use frequently. With Russell and Carey’s (2002) article in mind, it is evident to me that relationships are immensely influential in a person’s development, and oftentimes, this development can only come about through a change or disruption to a person’s status quo. Overall, I believe this change was an extremely positive experience, as when I changed schools I met new people, learnt more, and was able to grow and express myself in a positive manner. 

References

Russell S, Carey M, 2002, Remembering: responding to commonly asked questions, http://narrativepractices.com.au/attach/pdf/Remembering_Common_Questions.pdf , accessed 21st August 2021