EXCELLENT VS EXCELLENCE

Excellent and Excellence are two different words (Same-Same but Different). The word used in the school slogan ‘The Christian Choice for Excellence in Education’ is the latter. Excellence is more a value, an attribute, a trait one carries with them - hopefully for a long time - for life. It refers to a drive, a pursuit to be better than the norm, greater than the average or expected standard in a selected field. One would hope and desire this drive to be applied in every aspect of life. Excellent is (I personally see and regard) to be somewhat a measured standard - that is final once assigned by whoever claims ‘it’ to be excellent. Yes, this is also subjective to the individual - what may be excellent for one, may not be for another. So, to rate someone or something as excellent, may be impossible unless there is a universal standard to justify what is ‘excellent’. Once something is regarded as excellent, anything that ends up being higher than that, cannot be called excellent, but will need to be more excellent or a synonym that signifies it! Like magnificent, or incredible. (Apple is running out of names for their M1 chips… Pro -> Max -> Extreme to what? Isn’t max meaning Maximum, therefore voids the possibility to go beyond this limit? What is so ‘Pro’ about the Pro chips if there is a Max above it? Pro now sounds amateur and basic in comparison. 

Excellence on the other hand signifies a quality, and an ongoing perspective/attitude towards life and not settling for any less than being better than what was personally achieved before. Always seeking to be better and obtain a personal best in life. This trait and positive/growth mindset is a positive and encouraging one, one that does not have a final destination nor an end goal - as we identify ourselves as imperfect (Romans 3:23), and therefore will never attain perfection like Jesus. All we can do is strive to be more like Him each day (Ephesians 5:1-2). This is done through adopting a mental posture of excellence (Philippians 4:8). It is easy to rate oneself as excellent in something or being excellent - but the real key is that it doesn’t stop there. Instead, it should be an ongoing desire and pursuit for excellence - to always one up ourselves because we believe God has created us and called us to be and do greater things than He (John 14:12). While we are still alive, our purpose here on Earth and calling by God is not yet finished, and we still have greater things to live out - which means we still have the opportunity to be and do greater things (2 Peter 1:3-4). Being a school - an educational organisation - Hence the slogan ‘The Christian Choice for Excellence in Education.’ 30+ years on, we (harmonious partnership between school, home and church) continue to always be better than what we were before, to help children be better than what they were, to train them up in the way he should go (Proverbs 22:6) and to discover their God given gifts/talents and pursue their purpose and calling in life.

Joseph Kan

(Head of Navigate and Launch – Years 5-10)