Lessons on Resilience | Wellington College Bangkok

The severe flooding in Bangkok this past week has brought considerable disruption and hardship to many families in our community. As Wellington temporarily moved to online learning, familiar routines changed almost overnight, while some members of our community faced the much greater challenge of floodwater entering their own homes. Throughout it all, the response from our students, parents, and staff has shown how much can be achieved when a community looks after one another.

Our teachers moved swiftly to online provision, drawing on well-rehearsed plans to keep students learning and connected to school. Behind the lessons on screen, many were also supporting their own children at home or dealing with the effects of flooding themselves. Their commitment helped students settle into the transition with confidence, while Wellington parents made it possible at home, often balancing their own work with the practical demands of helping children access lessons and maintain a routine.

Our students deserve particular credit for the way they adapted. From our youngest learners, who needed more help from the adults around them, to older students managing their studies with increasing independence, they approached an unexpected situation with patience and determination. Although the circumstances were difficult, their willingness to keep learning and support one another gave us much to be proud of. For many, the return to online lessons felt eerily reminiscent of the COVID years. Alongside those memories, however, came the same shared determination to pull together, with families and staff finding ways to make things work even when their own circumstances were far from straightforward.

That commitment extended well beyond teaching and learning though. A large group of our teachers and other staff helped purchase and deliver emergency supplies to those most in need, responding to immediate difficulties across the local community via various charities, with THB 50,000 of emergency funds pre-allocated from our upcoming Welly Walk charity event. Near the school, staff even used kayaks to carry essential items through flooded areas, reaching people whose access to everyday necessities had been cut off. Some of those helping were themselves dealing with flooded homes, yet still found the time and energy to support others.

For our students, these actions offer an important lesson in what our College values mean in practice. Kindness was evident in the care shown to neighbours and colleagues, while Responsibility meant recognising a need and doing what was possible to help. Courage took many forms, from navigating floodwater to facing an uncertain day with determination. Respect meant understanding that each family’s circumstances were different, and Integrity was reflected in people honouring their commitments even when doing so became much harder.

Wellington’s Master, Chris Nicholls, reflected on exactly these points in his weekly message to our Wellington families:

“I know that stoicism is quite unfashionable these days, but persevering when you really want to give up; being resilient when you feel like avoiding; putting others’ needs before your own even if you’re tired or sad; being positive and reliable even when you don’t feel them: these are part of what it means to be a Wellingtonian.  I saw a lot of it this week.”

We would never wish for our students to learn these lessons through such difficult circumstances, but they have seen powerful examples of resilience around them this week. They have also seen that resilience depends on the support we give and receive, and on knowing that we belong to a community that cares.

To every student, parent, and member of staff who helped keep learning going or supported someone in need, thank you. Your response has given real meaning to our values and shown our children what it means to come together as one.