Prep Head's Blog: The options we all have as people

Time to think is a precious commodity and, over the past weeks, we have all had time to do a lot of thinking. I have been wondering about human nature, and how people have reacted to the pandemic we are all caught up in.

I don’t know about you, but I have become addicted to the news and all media coverage concerning the coronavirus and its huge impact. Over the Easter break, however, I was also able to catch up on some of Netflix’s major offerings including the much publicised Tiger King. Whilst watching this programme, it struck me that people can easily blame others for their problems and issues (in this case the notorious Carole Baskin), but this invariably leads to crushing underachievement, jealousy and self-doubt.

I am not pretending that what we are facing isn’t immensely challenging, and that we will naturally have moments of melancholy. However, in times of adversity, we can all find what we call at Brentwood ‘glimpses of online brilliance’ (GOOBS) and recently, it was Lady Gaga’s response to the wonderful and heroic work of those who work on the frontline of medical care that particularly struck me. The so-called ‘Queen of Pop’ used her significant influence to raise in excess of $140 million dollars by organising an evening of musical entertainment which was dubbed the Virtual Live Aid of our times. One World:Together at Home may not have been to everyone’s taste musically but no one can doubt the positive sentiment behind it.

I wonder how the man known as the Tiger King has dealt with Coronavirus from his prison cell? No doubt apportioning blame here, there and everywhere and, probably, on Carole Baskin. You may think this a strange comparison but I hope to illustrate how inspired optimism (Lady Gaga) can lift you, and how relentless pessimism (Tiger King) can lead to a very different outcome.

In terms of our community, we continue to see some amazing activities and achievements from our pupils and their families. People we all know are doing so much to lighten the mood and to try and keep working hard on the variety of online platforms that we have been working on. It makes me immensely proud, and it proves that it’s important to try to be a bit more like Gaga than the Tiger King.

Kind regards,

Jason Whiskerd