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What is Success?

What is success? In different times, it has been
measured in different ways. In the past, many
viewed success as finding a husband or a wife from
a “suitable” background. In the years of the “Celtic
Tiger”, many measured success by the size of your
house or the cost of the vehicle you were driving.
As evidenced by some of the programmes that
can be seen on the television, you are only making
it if you can sing, dance or entertain others. On
the sporting field, some will only measure success
by representing their country, or winning a gold
medal in the Olympics. In some academic institutions, straight A’s in the Leaving Certificate is
the only way in which a person can be regarded as a success.

While each of these aims may be laudable in themselves, I feel that each of them lack one
vital component – the abilities of each individual. There is no point in aiming for the greatest
sporting achievement if the natural talent is not there in the first place. Those who appear
on the talent shows without the necessary abilities cannot be expected to carve out a career
for themselves in the world of showbusiness. And there will be those for whom the courses
in medicine and law will not be accessible as the points tally required will not be achievable.

It is therefore vital that each and every one of the young people we meet and have responsibility
for set targets that are achievable, even if they may not be easy to reach. I grew up in a house
where the aim was always “Do the best that you can”, which both challenged and supported
us as we developed. It can only be when anyone does the best that he or she could that true
success can be celebrated.
I hope that the Royal School Cavan continues to give each and every pupil the opportunity
to do the best that they can. I hope that each member of staff continues to encourage
each student along the way, pushing them when necessary and encouraging them always.
Especially, I hope and pray that each one of the school’s students leaves the school (whenever
that may be) feeling that it has encouraged them to be the best that he or she can be.

Mr. Edward Lindsay,

Headmaster.

The Royal Times 2011-2012 5