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When I was younger the board game, The Game of Life, was one of my favourites to play. It was fun to play out all the different twists and turns ‘life’ can take in a game. Would I get my dream job, the fancy house, the big pay packet, the holiday, the pet? Or I would get slammed with taxes, floods & redundancy?

Life, believe it or not, works a lot like that game.  We make choices all the time, some big, some small, and choices always have consequences, both good and bad.  There are also unexpected events, the twists and turns that throw things off course.  But unlike the board game, in real life, YOU are in control of the car – you get to decide how you navigate the road ahead. Our Growth Profile aims to instil a range of to skills and attributes necessary for success beyond school, and my focus today  - Skills for Life - encourages students to build world-readiness. 

Part of being world-ready is being able to make good decisions. 

The Game of Life gives you options – go to college/university or start a career?  Invest in a house or travel the world? You also have choices to make every day.  Should you study for that test or hang out with friends? Send that message or talk in person? Do you take that challenging class with UE opportunities or stay in your comfort zone? Do you try something new like a musical instrument or a different Wednesday Active option? 

These may seem like small choices, but they all add up.  The decisions you make today will influence your future path.  Think of it like choosing which road to take on the game board.  The scenic road might be fun, but it could take longer.  The main highway might be faster, but you miss seeing the sights.  There's no right or wrong answer, but understanding the potential consequences helps you make informed choices.

Being world-ready is being able to accept the consequences of your choices, and use them to learn. 

Every choice in The Game of Life has a consequence.  Go to College and you get a qualification, but also debt. Go straight into work and have an income, but less ability to progress a career and your earning potential.
Life works the same way. The choices you make have consequences, both positive and negative. Sometimes students focus on the negative consequences, forgetting that every choice has positive and negative consequences; like pros & cons. For example, making a good choice to do your homework has positive consequences of meeting an expectation and being able to hand your work in on time; you might even get a PRIDE stamp. A negative consequence is that it took up some of your free time - whether you did it at a lunchbreak or at home. If you choose not to do your homework, there is a positive consequence of getting to spend your time how you choose, the negative consequence is that you may need to spend a lunchtime catching up, or home may be contacted. 

If a bad decision has led you down a bumpy road, don't beat yourself up. This is a learning institution, and sometimes the learning we support students with isn’t academic, we expect people to make mistakes, but we also expect you to learn from them. Use it as a learning experience. Figure out what went wrong, adjust your strategy, and get back on track. You can always keep playing, taking opportunities to grow and learn.

Lastly, being world-ready is about dealing with the unexpected kinks in the road. 

Here's the thing about life – it's full of surprises.  Just like landing on "Lose a Turn," unexpected events can throw you off track.  Maybe you get sick, a family situation changes, or even a global pandemic disrupts the world (erherm COVID!).

The key here isn't to panic.  Remember, you're still in control of the car.  Unexpected events might force you to change course, but you have the opportunity to adapt and find a new way forward.  Think strategically!  In the game, if you lose a turn, maybe you can use that time to plan your next move.  In life, unexpected events can be opportunities to learn, grow, and discover hidden strengths. You just might find out that the path you end up on is leading you to a better one. 

So, consider the strategy you’re applying to your own Game of Life. What smart choices can you be making, how can you be prepared for surprises, and what are you learning from your experiences?  With preparedness, resilience, support and a positive attitude, you will be set to navigate your own game of life.