On Friday 20 February, as part of our Project 9 program, Year 9 students had the privilege of hearing from guest speaker Ben Pettingill, whose story left a lasting impression on all who attended. 

Ben shared his personal journey of living with vision loss and the challenges he has faced along the wat. Through honest storytelling and humour, he encourages students to reflect on the importance of resilience when confronting obstacles and setbacks. His message emphasised that while we cannot always control the challenges we encounter, we can choose how to respond to them. 

A key theme of Ben’s presentation was the power of perspective. He challenged students to look at difficult situations through a different lens and to recognise the opportunities for growth that can emerge from adversity. His ability to speak candidly about his experience, while maintaining an uplifting and hopeful outlook, was well received by our students. 

Students were inspired by Ben’s determination, courage and positive mindset. His message aligned closely with the goals of the Project 9 program, which aims to support students in developing resilience, self-awareness and a strong sense of purpose as they navigate the challenges of adolescence. We are grateful to Ben for sharing his story and inspiring our students to approach life’s challenges with courage, perspective and perseverance. 

Here is a reflection by Year 9 Student Ava Lo Guarro:
After listening to Ben Pettingill speak, the main takeaways from his story were the importance of resilience and learning to adapt when life suddenly changes. Ben lost 98% of his vision overnight at only 16 years old. At first, he struggled to accept the fact that he was blind, hoping that one day his vision would come back. He tried to refuse the thought of being permanently blind. Though eventually overtime, he learnt he needed to accept the situation and move on. He learned to navigate the world in a new way and be able to do the things he used to love. 

What stood out was how he refused to let blindness stop him from challenging himself physically and mentally. Ben completed in the Spartan Race, which included barbed wire and crawling through mud. Overall, his story shows the importance of being resilient in hard situations, as well as how having a strong mindset can help you overcome many obstacles.