Opportunities are not simply moments of chance; they are the foundation upon which our future selves are built.
This is the central question I wish to explore: how do the opportunities we embrace shape who we become?
Reading recently about the great achievements of students in the area with their GCSE and A-level results brought me back to my days as a secondary school tutor, and to the relief and excitement we felt when we celebrated the result of our efforts.
It also reminded me that such moments are not only the end of a well-earned victory, but also the start of a new battle against the unknown, and that the message to my students was that opportunities were the starting line for what they would become in life.
Many students recognise this when initiating university: you are suddenly in a new place, surrounded by unfamiliar faces and challenges, and how you adapt and engage with these opportunities can make all the difference.
As I learned about Ottery and became part of the community, I learned that students must seek out experiences, join groups, and embrace the unfamiliar to grow during this important time in their lives.
I confess I was very fortunate when I decided to move to Ottery, because I met people like the then Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Ottery; a councillor whose father had been the first Alderman of the town; and other well-known residents, who fed my curiosity with their immense local knowledge and encouraged me to start writing.
Meeting these established members of the community inspired me and opened doors to experiences I would not have had on my own.
They also provided the knowledge I needed when I became a councillor, because if you do not know the town, its history, and the residents of the parish you represent, you cannot make the right decisions when needed and respond to the demands from those who elected you.
So are opportunities merely the starting line of what you will become in life?
Yes: how you respond and what you do truly define you.
Rather than waiting for luck, let your character be shaped by action and choice.
I hope that at this time of the year, when many college and university students are looking forward to a new stage in their lives, they remember this: “There is a great world out there waiting for you to conquer,” and it is up to you to decide who you become and what you learn from the experience.
But I want to remind everyone in our community that the chance for growth does not belong only to students or the young.
Opportunities to learn and embrace new experiences exist at every stage of life, for each of us.
Many people worry about making mistakes or not fitting in, but these feelings are part of the journey for all of us, no matter our age or background.
Whether you are just beginning your journey or have been part of this community for decades, let curiosity, openness, and the willingness to try something new shape your path forward.
No matter your background or walk of life, opportunities can be found in many places: perhaps it is switching careers after years in a different field, joining a local choir, volunteering at a food bank, or simply learning a new recipe or craft.
Some may decide to start a small business from home, take up painting, or begin to walk regularly in nature with others.
Every member of our community, whether retired, raising a family, running a local shop, or simply looking for a new purpose, can find ways to embrace growth.
If you face doubts, setbacks, or moments of uncertainty along the way, do not be discouraged; these experiences can be among the most important lessons you will learn.
Believe in yourself and be proud of the person you have become by sheer hard work, by making the right choices, by being curious.
To me, the comment “you have been lucky” is not a compliment; quite the opposite, it questions our intelligence.
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