This month CDL Talks gave us a moment to be genuinely proud of one of our own. Ronan, a House Parent from Champ des Bois took the stage to speak about resilience, a theme that sits at the heart of what we try to build in Olympus and across boarding life.

His talk was calm, thoughtful and grounded in real experience. He spoke about resilience not as a dramatic, heroic quality, but as something that grows day by day, in how young people respond to challenges, manage their emotions and learn to trust their own abilities. It was a message that felt both practical and hopeful, and it landed well with the students who attended.

In many ways, Ronan’s talk echoed what we see in the house. Resilience doesn’t appear in big leaps. It forms quietly through routines, supportive relationships and moments where students push themselves a little further than they did the day before. This is the environment we work to create: a place where students feel safe enough to take risks, steady enough to practise new habits and supported enough to try again when things don’t go to plan.

Seeing one of our staff speak so clearly about these ideas was a reminder of how fortunate we are to have role models who not only guide our students but also live the values we hope to instil.

A huge thank you to Ronan for representing Boarding so well and for giving our community something meaningful to reflect on.