50p
The Responsibilities of Privilege
I am the first to admit it. I have lived a privileged life. From a very young age I was fortunate enough to grow up under the watchful, sagacious, eye of the Arabian sun and travel to many places I wasn’t even old enough to pronounce properly. As a child I saw and experienced so many things that most people can only dream about.
When I was four my parents decided to move to Saudi Arabia for their “next great adventure” and I just took it for granted that that was the way life was and was supposed to be. As children we do not fully appreciate what we are presented with and for me that “what” was travel and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. We went on a magical camping safari in Africa, not seeing another soul, other than our cook, guide and porters, for days. We rode elephants in Thailand, poked around ‘grand bazaars’ in Arabic countries and jumped off of the front of a 70-foot yacht into the clear turquoise waters of the Aegean Sea off the coast of Turkey. We even met my hero of that time, the late Steve Irwin at his Australia Zoo.
As Brentwood students, the unpleasant but genuine reality is that some view us as “Spoiled Brentwood Brats”, however, for the most part, this is not the case. Though some view Brentonians as ungrateful kids with rich parents who will never have to lift a finger, many students are only able to attend thanks to scholarships, funding from grandparents or other family members, and the bursaries that we students spend our limited free time raising funds for. All, if not most, Brentwood students are very grateful to be attending such a highly regarded school. With programs such as studio art, musical theater and production, debate, public speaking and multiple sporting opportunities, students have many outlets to express their passions outside of academics - programs that many of us would not have been able to experience had it not been for Brentwood.
Previous graduates such as Claire V and Alex L have gotten full ride scholarships to top-ranked universities thanks to a lot of hard work on their parts and the academic and co-curricular opportunities offered by Brentwood. I am sure that graduates such as Claire and Alex and many others are grateful for the discipline, habits and skills that they have acquired in their time at Brentwood.
My point, fellow Brentonians, is that the next time you are sitting in class, developing your passions in the Bunch Theater, battling it out on the rugby field or even freezing your bums off in a rowing shell in the middle of Mill Bay, take time to reflect. Reflect on all the hard-working teachers and staff who devote their lives to giving you the best possible chance at a promising future. Think about your parents and grandparents who sacrifice lots so that you can be a part of this school. And think about your peers, and those who have come before you, raising money for bursaries so that kids whose parents can’t afford Brentwood still have a chance to come here.
Whenever you feel hard done by because you have to go to class on Saturday, or think that the constant sign-ins and outs are a pain, or feel exhausted because so many practices and rehearsals are gnawing away at your limited free time, take a minute to appreciate. Appreciate the beautiful scenery of the West Coast, the lifelong friendships you are forming and, most importantly, appreciate the people who have provided you with the opportunity and privilege of attending a school like Brentwood.
Although it may be difficult to appreciate sometimes, we are attending Brentwood so that we will have the best possible chance of a fulfilling and successful life. Having a future that you and your family can be proud of is a gift and the most rewarding of all privileges. The rest is up to us.
Emily R
When I was four my parents decided to move to Saudi Arabia for their “next great adventure” and I just took it for granted that that was the way life was and was supposed to be. As children we do not fully appreciate what we are presented with and for me that “what” was travel and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. We went on a magical camping safari in Africa, not seeing another soul, other than our cook, guide and porters, for days. We rode elephants in Thailand, poked around ‘grand bazaars’ in Arabic countries and jumped off of the front of a 70-foot yacht into the clear turquoise waters of the Aegean Sea off the coast of Turkey. We even met my hero of that time, the late Steve Irwin at his Australia Zoo.
As Brentwood students, the unpleasant but genuine reality is that some view us as “Spoiled Brentwood Brats”, however, for the most part, this is not the case. Though some view Brentonians as ungrateful kids with rich parents who will never have to lift a finger, many students are only able to attend thanks to scholarships, funding from grandparents or other family members, and the bursaries that we students spend our limited free time raising funds for. All, if not most, Brentwood students are very grateful to be attending such a highly regarded school. With programs such as studio art, musical theater and production, debate, public speaking and multiple sporting opportunities, students have many outlets to express their passions outside of academics - programs that many of us would not have been able to experience had it not been for Brentwood.
Previous graduates such as Claire V and Alex L have gotten full ride scholarships to top-ranked universities thanks to a lot of hard work on their parts and the academic and co-curricular opportunities offered by Brentwood. I am sure that graduates such as Claire and Alex and many others are grateful for the discipline, habits and skills that they have acquired in their time at Brentwood.
My point, fellow Brentonians, is that the next time you are sitting in class, developing your passions in the Bunch Theater, battling it out on the rugby field or even freezing your bums off in a rowing shell in the middle of Mill Bay, take time to reflect. Reflect on all the hard-working teachers and staff who devote their lives to giving you the best possible chance at a promising future. Think about your parents and grandparents who sacrifice lots so that you can be a part of this school. And think about your peers, and those who have come before you, raising money for bursaries so that kids whose parents can’t afford Brentwood still have a chance to come here.
Whenever you feel hard done by because you have to go to class on Saturday, or think that the constant sign-ins and outs are a pain, or feel exhausted because so many practices and rehearsals are gnawing away at your limited free time, take a minute to appreciate. Appreciate the beautiful scenery of the West Coast, the lifelong friendships you are forming and, most importantly, appreciate the people who have provided you with the opportunity and privilege of attending a school like Brentwood.
Although it may be difficult to appreciate sometimes, we are attending Brentwood so that we will have the best possible chance of a fulfilling and successful life. Having a future that you and your family can be proud of is a gift and the most rewarding of all privileges. The rest is up to us.
Emily R
75p
