The Six Essential Qualities of a Crescent Graduate
January is traditionally a time for reflection and goal-setting. At our assembly this month, I encouraged the boys to consider their New Year’s resolutions in light of the three key questions that are central to a Crescent education and essential to our Crescent Way: Who am I? How do I lead? What is my legacy?
I also shared with boys how these questions are central to our Portrait of a Crescent Graduate initiative. This initiative, which involved the entire Crescent community in reflection and goal-setting, identified six essential qualities a Crescent graduate in 2030 will need to enjoy success, purpose and wellbeing in all aspects of their lives.
I also shared with boys how these questions are central to our Portrait of a Crescent Graduate initiative. This initiative, which involved the entire Crescent community in reflection and goal-setting, identified six essential qualities a Crescent graduate in 2030 will need to enjoy success, purpose and wellbeing in all aspects of their lives.
As the first essential quality, a Crescent graduate must strive to be a moral person with the courage to uphold and act upon the highest standards of ethical behaviour. This is perhaps the most straightforward and yet difficult to achieve for it is about living and practicing our core values of respect, responsibility, honesty and compassion. In essence, you should endeavour to respect yourself, others, and the environment, to own your impact, to tell the truth even when it is not easy, and to show empathy toward others.
Second, a Crescent graduate must strive to be self-aware and self-regulating with a strong sense of purpose, agency and potential. As I told the boys, you must try to keep a cool head, to control your attention, focus and flow so that you can perform at the highest level.
Third, a Crescent graduate must strive to be a positive leader who builds relationships and understands the importance of serving others in order to inspire action and accomplishment. I fundamentally believe that leaders are not born for self-interest; they are bred to help others.
Fourth, a Crescent graduate must strive to be a critical thinker who listens carefully, communicates clearly and collaborates effectively. Your ability to think, speak and act, with your head, heart and hands, will distinguish you in the way you work with, learn from and lead others.
Fifth, a Crescent graduate must be adaptable, resourceful and creative in meeting the challenges of an increasingly complex world. By being “open to growth” and flexible in an increasingly changing and diverse world, our boys will remain relevant and responsive to life’s greatest opportunities.
Sixth, a Crescent graduate must be an engaged citizen who respects people’s differences, is mindful of interconnectivity, and seeks betterment in his local and global community. As I told the boys, your commitment to others and to our planet, both here and abroad, will enrich your life and ultimately our society.
Like our four core values, there will be many different ways to demonstrate these six essential qualities. Whether he shines in athletics, arts, robotics, or outreach, I believe each Crescent boy has the capacity to be a good person, a positive leader and an engaged citizen, albeit in different ways and through different means. In fact, the rich diversity of talent and opportunity across our school community will ignite individual promise to transform into moral, performance and civic character – the very point of our great school’s existence.
Veritate Stamus et Crescimus.
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Second, a Crescent graduate must strive to be self-aware and self-regulating with a strong sense of purpose, agency and potential. As I told the boys, you must try to keep a cool head, to control your attention, focus and flow so that you can perform at the highest level.
Third, a Crescent graduate must strive to be a positive leader who builds relationships and understands the importance of serving others in order to inspire action and accomplishment. I fundamentally believe that leaders are not born for self-interest; they are bred to help others.
Fourth, a Crescent graduate must strive to be a critical thinker who listens carefully, communicates clearly and collaborates effectively. Your ability to think, speak and act, with your head, heart and hands, will distinguish you in the way you work with, learn from and lead others.
Fifth, a Crescent graduate must be adaptable, resourceful and creative in meeting the challenges of an increasingly complex world. By being “open to growth” and flexible in an increasingly changing and diverse world, our boys will remain relevant and responsive to life’s greatest opportunities.
Sixth, a Crescent graduate must be an engaged citizen who respects people’s differences, is mindful of interconnectivity, and seeks betterment in his local and global community. As I told the boys, your commitment to others and to our planet, both here and abroad, will enrich your life and ultimately our society.
Like our four core values, there will be many different ways to demonstrate these six essential qualities. Whether he shines in athletics, arts, robotics, or outreach, I believe each Crescent boy has the capacity to be a good person, a positive leader and an engaged citizen, albeit in different ways and through different means. In fact, the rich diversity of talent and opportunity across our school community will ignite individual promise to transform into moral, performance and civic character – the very point of our great school’s existence.
Veritate Stamus et Crescimus.
See all of Headmaster Fellin's Open Mike Blogs
