From the Captains

On Monday, Aadi and I had the privilege of meeting and spending the day with athlete and motivational speaker Nedd Brockmann during his visit to SPSC as part of the Rex J Lipman Fellows Program. Nedd’s story powerfully illustrates the themes of resilience, growth mindset, and stepping outside your comfort zone. In 2022, Nedd captured the nation’s attention by running . 6,100 km across Australia in just 46 days. He started at Cottesloe Beach in Perth and finished at Bondi Beach in Sydney, averaging over 80 km per day.

Nedd’s primary motivation was not personal glory but to raise money for Mobilise, a charity supporting homeless people in Australia. He used his run to shine a light on homelessness and inspire action. The challenge was immensely successful, raising over $2.5 million for the cause. Following his journey across Australia, he also started “Nedd’s Uncomfortable Challenge,” running 1,000 miles in 10 days around the Sydney Olympic Park to raise funds for homeless people across the country, which is equivalent to four marathons a day and 4000 laps in total.

My first impression of Nedd was his firm handshake and how he noticed there were some branches on my blazer, which he immediately offered to brush off. From the get-go, I was struck by how down-to-earth he was. I felt an immediate connection because Nedd did not place himself above the rest of us; we spoke as equals. This made talking to him much easier, as it felt like there was no barrier between us. He was more like an experienced friend than a celebrity. As the day progressed, we had more chances to speak, and I was able to learn more about him as a person and the ideas he stands for. Some of my key takeaways are below:

Don’t do something for the benefit; do it because you love it. The philosopher Immanuel Kant parallels this in his idea to “act in such a way that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, always at the same time as an end and never simply as a means.” Nedd’s words remind us to question our motives in our everyday lives. Are we being honest with ourselves if we do things not because we thoroughly enjoy them, but only for the material success they bring? This idea resonated with me deeply as I reflected on my year so far. In another timeline, I might have moved on to university to try and land a successful job to make as much money as possible. But I am glad that I slowed down and questioned whether I had more to give to the School community, ultimately choosing to spend this extra year with Aadi and work with a bunch of amazing people.

Nothing is ever inherently good or bad; it is our perception that gives it value and influence over us. When Nedd mentioned this, Mr Browning drew similarities to the ideas behind positive education, which we practice at the School. The ABC model, rooted in cognitive-behavioural therapy, helps people identify how Adversity (A) influences their Beliefs (B), which then shape their emotional and behavioural Consequences (C). Positive Education was always something I’d heard about but rarely took the time to understand. Now, with a better understanding, I feel I have a new lens through which to reflect on myself and the things that happen to me. By applying this perspective, I believe I can become stronger and less prone to negative thinking patterns. Coming back to Nedd, his words remind us that the answer to our bad days was always inside us. Not letting negative feelings take control and viewing challenges through a positive lens could be a formula for happiness.

Altogether, this day has certainly become one of the highlights of my calendar. As I think back, I am reminded of the challenge Nedd posed to us: How willing are you to push your body further than you think? There is always room for one more step. Applying this same concept to life, we are all more capable than we see ourselves. It was a privilege to be part of his visit, and I acknowledge the generosity of the Rex J Lipman Fellows Program for enabling us to bring such exceptional speakers to our community.

Tiger Liu
School Vice Captain