Courage is one of the most powerful and often unseen character traits lived out daily in schools. It is not only the grand, heroic gestures that we associate with bravery, such as those honoured by the Australian Government in their Bravery Awards—but also the quiet, deliberate choices students make each day to step beyond their comfort zones.

At Bishop Druitt College, we see courage in its many forms, from the youngest child in Kindergarten to our young adults preparing for their Higher School Certificate. It is the willingness to raise a hand in class with an answer that might be wrong, the bravery to volunteer first when others hesitate, or the resilience to join a new team, class, or performance group. These are not small acts. They are daily demonstrations of character that shape young people into adults ready to embrace challenges with confidence.

A Deliberate Choice
Courage is rarely accidental, it is a deliberate choice.

For some students, it means stepping into a space where they risk embarrassment or failure. For others, it is the choice to extend themselves in an area of strength, such as entering a science competition, performing music in front of an audience, or trialling for a sporting team. While these may seem like natural steps, they often come with the challenge of self-doubt, the fear of failure, or the concern of standing out. At BDC, we remind our students, in the words of Dr Seuss, “You were born to stand out.”

Beyond Comfort and Familiarity
True growth rarely happens in spaces of familiarity. It takes courage to leave the safety of what is known and step into a place of challenge. This might be a student who shares their writing for the first time, a musician performing a solo, or an athlete training through a difficult season. Parents and carers play a vital role in this journey, not by offering post-game critiques or endless analysis, but by affirming their child’s courage to try, to persist, and to learn. The encouragement of effort, rather than only the outcome, is what nurtures resilience.

Building a Culture of Courage
Schools are more than classrooms, they are communities where courage can either be nurtured or diminished. At BDC, we celebrate courage in diverse ways, whether through Book Week celebrations, creative expression in EYE Week, or the camaraderie of our sporting clubs and success in curriculum areas like history, Visual Arts, PDHPE, Languages, English, Science, Technology and Performing Arts, HSIE. These events reinforce that courage is not reserved for the exceptional few but is a quality accessible to all students.

Yet, courage also requires a culture of acceptance. We must guard against elitism, exclusion, or the mindset of “we have always done it this way.” True courage grows in environments where individual gifts are respected, where diversity is embraced, and where every student feels safe to step forward in their own way.

Courage in New Beginnings
For many, courage is also about starting fresh. Beginning Kindergarten, transitioning into high school, or taking on a new subject or co-curricular activity can all be daunting. Many adults commence a new career, tertiary study, a new home, new sport or relationship and they can also be examples of courage to our children, a deliberate action that places us in a place of discomfort or concern. At Bishop Druitt College, we support these moments for our students through intentional structures such as our Kindergarten Engagement Coordinator, Transition and Engagement programs for Years 6–8, rites of passage, clubs and our wellbeing initiatives. These are designed not only to ease change or anxiety but also to celebrate the unique gifts of every student.

Everyday courage
Ultimately, courage in education is about much more than academic success or personal achievement. It is about developing young people who are willing to make brave choices, stand up for what is right, embrace challenges, and support one another. These small, everyday acts of bravery accumulate into the foundation of strong character traits to become World Prepared. This is a part of the BDC Advantage.

As a school and as a community, our role is to notice and celebrate these moments of courage and encourage the deliberate actions that make a difference. When we do, we not only affirm the bravery of our children but also build their resilience and a growth mindset that will assist them as the future leaders that we need to see in our communities.

Simon Doyle
Principal

Sources: 

Australian Government Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet
https://www.pmc.gov.au/honours-and-symbols/list-australian-honours/star-courage