Aristotle once said, “Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” According to the Oxford Dictionary, the definition for wisdom is “the quality of having experience, knowledge and good judgement”. Therefore, it follows that the authentic knowledge of one’s true self is necessary to building the skills of problem solving, decision making and leadership. In other words, great leadership is not simply about leading others, rather it always starts by leading self.

On Cooerwull Day this year, our 119th Birthday, we had alumni Alicia Loxley (née Gorey, Class of 1999) visit our Senior School and share with students and staff about her journey into journalism. Ms Loxley spoke about facing challenges, making the most mof opportunities and the importance of showing up authentically as herself. Her message attested this idea that success, leadership and even growth necessitates self-awareness of reflection and action.

At Ivanhoe Girls’, we say ‘Our Girls Speak for Themselves’. This aspiration speaks to the trust the School has of our students to represent themselves and us simultaneously, without condition. We have this confidence in our students because we know them to be reflective and self-aware. 

Additionally, the conversations that have been held regarding the School Values this year have also highlighted our unique culture and have emphasised the traits required when leading self with thoughtful action.

Leading self begins with bravery, as it is always required when one choses vulnerability and authenticity, the foundation to self-awareness, over trying to reach unattainable perfectionism or assessing and acclimating to banal cliquishness. Next, leading self asks each individual to be connected with themselves; to first know their own personal values and then to pause before taking action in order to assess whether or not their actions may match those values.

This process then requires curiosity because one must explore and investigate the emotions experienced, particularly when in conflict with self or others, in order to accurately label and then regulate them. In order to accept and ultimately regulate each emotion, individuals must show themselves and others kindness. This allows them to be patient and understanding with themselves, empathic toward others and generous in their interpretations of responses and reactions. Lastly, once an individual goes through these steps, then they are capable of speaking for themselves and of leading with vibrancy and wisdom.

The aspiration of ‘Our Girls Speak for Themselves’ has always highlighted the self-awareness and leadership skills we hope every one of our students embodies and continues to develop further. Thus, the students of Ivanhoe Girls’ are well on their way to being the leaders of tomorrow because they are already the leaders of themselves.

Mrs Brett Borbely
Director of Student Wellbeing