Fear chopped

By Ashleigh Hill-Buxton
WHEN teens from three Casey secondary schools meet with Bob Allwright and learn how to karate-chop a block of wood in half, they conquer not only the block of wood, but their fears.
Students from Fountain Gate Secondary College, Gleneagles Secondary College and Endeavour Hills Secondary College are taking part in this leadership program that teaches young adults how to make choices and overcome difficulties.
The “Brilliant Attitude” workshop has been facilitated by Fountain Gate Secondary College teacher Wayne Smith for over six years.
At the outset of the program, all three schools were united as Eumemmerring Secondary College, but when the schools became independent of one another, Mr Smith was determined that the program should continue.
Twenty students from each school being selected to attend the course and the unique, positive approach it teaches has made it immensely popular.
“It brings the kids from all the schools together,” said Mr Smith.
Participants are selected from among the schools’ student leaders – usually school captains, student representative council members and student senate members – and range in age from 12 to 17 years.
The workshop is designed to provide the students with additional leadership skills and to further enhance their own natural abilities.
“It’s about getting the kids to make choices, being leaders and working through their fears,” said Mr Smith. However, the highlight of the program is its finale, where the students write down their fears on a block of wood and karate-chop the block in half, symbolising each student’s ability to overcome their fears.
“We have a 100 per cent success rate,” he said.
“Every kid manages to break the wood in half. When they’re standing in front of their peers, who are cheering them on and the music is playing, they always find the strength to do it.”