As we start the last term of the year, I want to remind you of something powerful from 2 Timothy 1:7:
“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”
Those aren’t just nice words on a page. That’s God reminding you that He has already placed inside you the strength to stand firm, to be bold, to lead, and to finish well. That strength comes from trusting Him more.
Every single day this term, you are going to face having to make choices. Some will be obvious, some subtle. Some will be easy, others uncomfortable. Moments when no one will see the choice you make but you.
Choose wisely.
When you decide how to spend your time, and with whom, choose wisely.
When you feel like giving up, choose wisely.
When continuing to scroll instead of studying seems easier, choose wisely.
When your alarm goes off and you’d rather hit snooze, choose wisely.
When it’s easier to do the bare minimum, choose wisely.
When no one is watching and character is what matters most, choose wisely.
God didn’t create you to drift through life or to simply blend into the background. He created you to live a life of consequence, a life that impacts others. He’s given you potential, real, powerful, God-given potential. But that potential only becomes reality through self-discipline… and the kind of self-discipline that’s stronger when it’s rooted in faith.
You’ve heard teachers, mentors, and housemasters talk about self-discipline before. It’s a word that gets thrown around a lot. But at its core, self-discipline is simply making the right choice, again and again, especially when it costs something. And here’s the truth: it’s hard to do that on your own.
But when you walk with God, when you invite Him into your day, when you rely on His strength and not just your own strength, something shifts. It becomes possible to make the wise choice, even when it’s uncomfortable.
Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 9:24–27 about running a race, not aimlessly, but to win the prize. That takes focus, training, and determination. And that kind of race is run one decision at a time. Choose wisely.
In Galatians 6:7–8, we’re reminded that what we sow is what we reap. If you sow discipline, faithfulness, and courage now, you’ll reap strength, resilience, and character later. So, when shortcuts look tempting, when the easy option whispers your name, pause, pray, and choose wisely.
You each carry massive potential. There is more in you than you realise. This final term isn’t just about finishing strong academically, it’s about growing into the man God has called you to be. A man of courage. A man of character. A man who stands out not because of popularity, but because he chooses wisely, again and again.
This term is a race. Not against the boy next to you, but against the weaker version of yourself. Every choice shapes the man you’re becoming.
This last term is more than just an academic finish line. It’s a chance to shape who you’re becoming. To set a tone. To lead yourself and maybe even others, well. Choose wisely.
So as we begin this final stretch, don’t just rely on your willpower. Rely on God’s power. Let Him give you strength. Let Him shape your choices.
Be bold. Be determined. Be faithful.
And above all, choose wisely.
Mr A Sparrow
Deputy Headmaster, Pastoral