Invicta Vlogs
Pathways
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveller, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth
This week has been a week of discussions and important decision making for our Year 13 students. It is that time of year where they are faced with the choice of what to do and where to go after their journey with us here at Invicta ends; whether that be attending University, travelling, finding work or embarking on an apprenticeship. The choice could even be as simple as making the decision to stay local or experience what life has to offer some place new. And it's these discussions this week that have made me think about all the different choices we are faced with in life. It is those choices that makes life the adventure that it is, they send us down certain paths and allow us to discover new and exciting opportunities.
As a community, we have all made the same choice at some point. Our staff made a choice to apply for a position at Invicta and work hard at being successful at interview. Similarly, Year 6 students had to work hard at passing the Kent Test in order for their choice of joining Invicta to come to fruition. Our Sixth Form students also deliberated the different subjects and directions for a successful and enjoyable A level experience at Invicta. All these individual choices send us on a particular path and reward us with opportunities unique to Invicta; I know that during all of our time here we make the most out of every opportunity presented to us.
However, some choices we make are more complex than others, and quite often deciding whether to take a risk and try something new can be the hardest choice of all. These difficult choices can range from deciding whether to try a new food in a restaurant, to joining a new club at school, or even whether to move across the country for University. Each one of these decisions can have far reaching effects in our lives. When we are faced with the unknown, we tend to carry out research and look for reassurance that we are making the right choices. We ask friends and family for advice and gather as much information as we can so that we can make informed decisions; just like in the poem, we look as far down the path as we can to see how things may turn out.
However, the reality is that none of us can know 100% how our choices will turn out, we can never minimise the risk of our choices completely. But equally, it is just as important to trust yourself in these moments. Choices lead to opportunities. Opportunities lead to life experiences. And life experiences make us the unique individuals that we are. The choices that I have made in my life without knowing the outcome have led to the most exciting and happiest moments, and have helped shaped me into the person I am today.
Today, I encourage each and every one of you to see choices as opportunities rather than risks. Making the choice to step into the unknown can lead to possibilities that you have never considered and make your life the adventure that it should be.
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I –
I took the one less travelled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Mr Lillicrap
Head of Sixth Form
