An extract from Will Goldsmith’s address for ‘A Celebration of Packwood’, 27 June 2025
It has been the most remarkable term, with weeks of almost continuous sunshine. Packwood has never appeared more idyllic, and I hope that the summer of 2025, indeed this academic year, will linger in your memory as you grow up, emblematic of happy school days that will always bring a smile.
Perhaps that dance, inspired by TikTok, sits in contrast to this notion of an idyllic childhood. It touches on something very real and perhaps a world away from this setting behind me. A world where identity can feel like a performance. Where people, especially young people, are encouraged to polish, filter, rehearse, and present a perfect version of themselves to the world.
And in that world, it’s easy for young people to start believing that their value lies in how they look — or how many views or likes they can get.
I have come to truly believe that a Packwoodian holds on to something different.
That something different is not where success is about looking perfect or performing for the approval of others.
It is instead rooted in trying. In growing. In stumbling sometimes — and getting back up.
William Kamkwamba — a teenager in Malawi, built a windmill from scrap metal to bring electricity to his village. He taught himself from a library book, in a language he barely understood. And when people asked him how he did it, he simply said:
“I try, and I made it.”
No fanfare. No polish. Just effort. Grit. Courage.
That’s the kind of character we celebrate here at Packwood.
In fact, that quiet strength is exactly what The Packwood Way is all about.
A far cry from being the loudest or the flashiest, it is firmly rooted in:
- tenacity — keeping going when something’s hard.
- humility — not needing to boast, just doing the right thing.
- respect — for others, for the world around you, for yourself.
This year, we’ve seen those values in action time and time again.
In the child who was nervous to stand up in Church— but did it anyway.
In the child who didn’t get into the team at first — but trained harder and came back stronger.
In the quiet acts of kindness that happen every single day — in corridors, classrooms, and dorms.
Returning to William Kamkwamba:
He was bold —standing in the face of criticism, doubt, and fear
He used his imagination to see what didn’t yet exist.
He was growth minded — learning, failing, trying again.
He valued teamwork — he didn’t build the windmill alone. He built it with the help of friends, family, and faith in community.
He relied on resourcefulness — working with whatever he had.
He showed empathy — because everything he did was for others.
And ultimately, he pursued excellence, not for recognition, but for impact.
He didn’t wait for perfect conditions. He didn’t worry about being watched or praised. He simply tried — and in doing so, inspired the world. Because in the end, we don’t just grow by posing or performing.
We grow by trying.
We grow by helping.
We grow through friendship.
“I try, and I made it.” That’s what William Kamkwamba said.
“We try, and we grow — together.” That’s the Packwood way.
