“There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children.
One of these is roots, the other, wings.” – Johann von Goethe

As parents, we use the younger years to focus on building children’s roots to give a firm foundation to not only launch from, but also to hold them firm when the storms of life come. However, in their teens, we know it is time to start helping children grow their wings.  

This is what I believe will be one of the greatest benefits of Tanglin’s Highland Programme in Australia - your child will have the chance to stretch their wings.

Stretching your wings and flying is always exhilarating but if we are going to fly, we must also accept the possibility of turbulence or rough landings. Unfortunately for some, the fear of those can be so great that it stops them from attempting to fly. It is only natural that we want to protect our children, however, as much as we may think removing risk and danger is helping a child, it ultimately has the opposite effect.

In his book The Art of Growing Up, John Marsden writes, “It is a rich and immensely valuable experience to know fear. Fear in a context, fear that exists in complex relationships with other forces, fear that has limits and can be contained within safe places: this is the only way people at the beginning of their life journeys can develop an arsenal powerful enough to ensure that those journeys are healthy, satisfying and successful”

While I am confident the Highlands programme will deliver many learning opportunities and outcomes, it is your child’s character where I believe you will see the greatest change and benefits. 

I look forward to further discussions in the future and, especially, to welcoming your children to the campus in Australia.