Today I had the pleasure of conducting mock job interviews for a number of Year 12 students. The students all shared their sense of nervousness as they engaged in this process. Having “been there, done that”, I certainly empathise with the feeling of vulnerability that one experiences embarking on a process where you are asked to identify your strengths, opportunities and navigate the unexpected question. On this occasion I want to acknowledge that the 7 students I interviewed did an amazing job. I’m glad I wasn’t forced to make the decision on who was awarded the position.

At the end of the interview, when applicants were feeling more relaxed, I asked them how they were feeling having gone through the process. All the applicants agreed that they enjoyed the process with comments such as “that wasn’t so bad” and “I’m not sure why I was so nervous” being the common response. I reminded them that it's natural to feel nervous in certain situations. Whether you're about to give a speech, attend a job interview or meet new people, nerves can get the better of you. In fact, accepting that you're nervous can help you relax and focus on the task at hand, rather than wasting energy trying to suppress your feelings.

I draw this to your attention to encourage your student to relish the experience of what it means to feel nervous. Rather than avoid situations or circumstances that make us feel uncomfortable, accepting nervousness can assist in building resilience and open opportunities that can potentially contribute to personal growth. Navigating a situation despite feeling nervous will enable you to feel a sense of accomplishment and confidence that can carry over into other areas of your life. Over time, you may even find that you're less nervous in similar situations, as you've learned to trust in your ability to handle them.

In a similar vein, I had the opportunity to attend the South Street Public Speaking Competitions held last Friday. Congratulations to Zoe Newman, Eli Spielvogel and William Hollitt who competed in the impromptu and prepared speech categories. All three spoke very well with Zoe being awarded 3^rd place in the impromptu category and receiving a “honourable mention” in the prepared. The 3 students were wonderful ambassadors for Damacus College and their families. Well done. I encourage all students to explore the many opportunities to experience cocurricular activities such as these. They are wonderful opportunities to feel nervous and experience personal growth.