Stronger Communities, Stronger Futures…

When I first thought of this theme, I wondered, what does it mean to be strong?

Perhaps it’s associated with power and domination!
Maybe it is connected with stability and unity?

Or possibly… it is related to growing and improving not only our communities, but the future.

Laozi, an infamous Chinese philosopher, also considered what it meant to be strong in his quote about peace:

“If there is to be peace in the world,
There must be peace in the nations.
If there is to be peace in the nations,
There must be peace in the cities.
If there is to be peace in the cities,
There must be peace between neighbours.
If there is to be peace between neighbours,
There must be peace in the home.
If there is to be peace in the home,
There must be peace in the heart.”

The first time I saw this quote was back when I was in primary school. It was year 6, and I was soon going to high school. I was kind of in my +*aspirational/inspirational*+ phase at the time, when I came across a post of this quote on Pinterest. I never thought of it much, I just found it pretty cool. But after all these years, it has stuck with me since.

The main message was that the root of peace can be traced to ourselves as individuals. It reminds us that we cannot rely on institutions or authorities greater than us, when WE are the foundation of these levels of power. It is US who have the capacity and the responsibility to strengthen our communities.

As a Chinese-Australian girl and second-generation immigrant, living in a rural area, I strongly believe this quote to be true.

In these modern times, we complain about the lack of representation when it comes to race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sex, and socioeconomic background. We complain about the lack of PROGRESS in the government’s and the politicians’ responses to issues regarding mental health, suicide and bullying.

Yet, we don’t do anything because we assume we have no agency.

But you know what a small rural school like Mackillop College has?
A strong sense of community.

We have teachers who are alumni of this school. We hold retreats and organise excursions like Stoney Aqua Park trips to strengthen the bonds of our peers. Our teachers and the SRC hold surveys and ask for direct feedback from students on how we can increase students’ well being and sense of belonging.

It is these qualities of empathy, care, understanding and a desire to grow into something bigger and better that allows us to grow.

As Laozi said, ‘there must be peace between neighbours’.

Through our efforts of developing connections in our community, we strengthen the future of our small MacKillop College community and our Port Macquarie community.

In my past 4 years at MacKillop College I have thrived and grown as a leader and so has the school. Since starting here, there have been more people of colour, increasing the multiculturalism of our school. There has been more talk on the acceptance of people from the LGBTQIA+ community in our school. And people like me, have even had the chance to represent and be in the Student Representative Council.

So I am starting here – in little old Port Macquarie – my dreams and hopes of strengthening my community and thus, strengthening the future.