I am a huge basketball fan, and I have loved having our very own state NBL team called the Jack Jumpers.
The process to get them to be in the NBL was long and tedious. It took time, finance, local backing, venue availability, and many other hoops to jump through before it was approved to go ahead. Thankfully it did! In our very first year, we have made the NBL finals, versing the Sydney Kings. For anyone who has been following the journey and knows a thing or two about sport, at this elite level, the predications and expectations were that Tasmania Jack Jumpers would be at the bottom of the ladder without much hope of winning any games. In fact, that is exactly how our season started. In the first 10 games, we only won 2. This was not a fantastic start. However, as the season progressed, the Tassie team that was full of individuals from around Australia and the globe, came together and defeated the odds. Over time, we were able to claw our way back into a winning position and beat Melbourne United in the semi-finals in order to make the Grand-final. What a turnaround!
The message I take away from their journey is the power of belief. Their belief in each other and themselves, to achieve what looked like the impossible. All commentators of the sport and even many locals on the ground, predicted a pretty tough year of learning and development. This group of players and coaching staff had a different idea. They believed that no matter what, they would overcome, rally together, and show Australia what they are truly capable of. In life, we also must overcome challenges and face the critics, but we can rise to the challenge and focus on who we can be, not who we currently are. Having an internal belief, that’s solid to the core, is a powerful thing, and it is here, where we can have breakthroughs and success as we achieve our goals.
This is also a great reminder for us to have a few close people in our life who believe in us and care for us. Studies show that teacher efficacy and belief in their students are some of the greatest factors related to student success and development. As teachers and parents, we have the opportunity to be the biggest fans, supporters and believers of the young people we do life with. This will not only set them up for success, but reminds them, regardless of their own or others opinion, that we believe in them and see the potential for further greatness in their lives.
Francis Pascal — Primary Co-ordinator