Page 22 - Luce 2022

N ews a nd Events

Personal and
leadership

development

Early in 2022, the College
contracted consultant and
trainer, Mr Josh Farr, to run
a number of sessions on personal and leadership
development. JCH student, Ayva Jones, who
became Student Club President in 2023, reports on
the positive impact of the training.
Sporting debates, marathons,

Since my arrival at Janet Clarke Hall early in 2022, I have been
very grateful for the many opportunities to focus on personal and the inaugural Clarkerun
development. Thanks to the kind generosity of a donor, the
training offered with Josh Farr is a great example of how JCH While everyone wants to forget about lockdowns in Melbourne,
encourages residents to grow, not only as students, but also as a ‘normal semester 2’ at JCH was a foreign concept for the
leaders. majority of the students. If 2022 is anything to go by, it seems that
the emerging theme was ‘sport’.
Josh has visited us several times over the past year, focusing
on different elements of personal growth each time. The first Hot on the heels of the Mid-Winter Debate which saw the SCR
training I did with Josh focused on what it means to have and JCR battle it out over whether the College motto should
a growth mindset. This session taught us to keep moving be the ‘Leading Sporting College’, and the arrival of the new
forward with our goals and helped us break them down into Principal, Dr Eleanor Spencer-Regan – a marathon runner herself
achievable steps, with strategies to help us accomplish them. – it seemed like a newfound passion for all things exercise-related
The next training centred around leadership, encouraging us had been fostered throughout the College.
to assess our values and align our goals with them. I found this
session particularly interesting as it took place not long after This passion was further supported by empirics. While JCH
our student leadership team was formed, and it was a really students continued to excel academically, 2022 was a year of
inspiring way to start our term as the Student Executive. sporting triumphs: a 3rd place finish for our mixed hockey team –
the only college to enter a mixed team in the men’s division two
Over the summer break, I was fortunate enough to work years running; the equal achievement of the women’s volleyball
with Josh to prepare the training for our 2023 Welcome team, and the remarkable 2nd place finish by the incredible
Week leaders during N-Week. We discussed our previous squash team – JCH’s first major final in several years.
experiences with Welcome Week, and focused on both
the highs and lows to make sure we were prepared for any This new passion for sport brought with it what will hopefully
potential issues that could emerge throughout the week. become a staple event for JCH students – Clarkerun! An apt play
We then completed a special session just for the members on the word Parkrun, the name of the weekend running event,
of the Executive, in which we discussed what we wanted to the Friday before the beginning of exams saw students rise a little
accomplish and provide for the Student Club. earlier than usual to take part in Clarkerun, a 5km run (and brisk
walk) around Princes Park to let off a little steam and stress.
During Welcome Week, Josh returned to talk to our new
students about how to set yourself up for success at the While somewhat chillier and wetter than one would have liked,
beginning of your university journey. This session was also it was great so see so many students take to the running track.
really helpful for the leaders who attended. I feel so lucky to Despite the focus of Clarkerun generally being a relaxed event
have been part of Josh’s training, and even luckier to get the with no specific time goals in mind, many students eagerly tried
chance to help him design sessions that specifically meet the to beat Dr Spencer-Regan on the 5km loop around the park!
needs of Janet Clarke Hall.
While still very light-hearted, special congratulations must go
His insight and clear advice always leave me feeling to Jack Kervin and Will Thomas who were both a little speedier
motivated and better equipped to achieve my goals. This is than our Principal, and also to the small group of walkers who
a shared sentiment, with one student describing Josh as ‘a faced the rain (and cold) to cheer us on as we rounded the corner
very engaging speaker who made four hours fly by’. Another near College Crescent.
student said, ‘As a new University student, the nine tips to
thrive are incredibly helpful, especially on how to manage Was it the newfound love of sport or the promise of brunch back
[our] time’. at College upon their return that prompted the students to take
part? One will never know, but there is already talk that JCH
We are so privileged to have Josh return to JCH on a regular students (and staff alike) are training for running events in 2023
basis, and it is an opportunity I encourage my fellow students – be it the intercollegiate cross-country or another half- or full-
to make the most of. I believe that these are the kind of marathon event – alongside the Principal and this resident tutor.
experiences that set residential colleges – particularly JCH –
apart, as the focus is not only on academic achievement but Long live Clarkerun!
on developing the whole person.
Aidan Carter
Resident Tutor
22 LUCE Number 21 2022