JourneyOnline
The one thing Matt Noffs of the Ted Noffs Foundation was not going to tell students at Cromwell College during his presentation entitled ‘Sex, Booze and Honour Rolls’ was not to drink.
Thanks to a UC Foundation grant, the co-ed Uniting Church residential college on campus at the University of Queensland brought Matt up from Kings Cross, Sydney, to talk to first year students about their newfound freedom.
“The most important thing for young people leaving home and entering the wider world is support. In this particular circumstance, young people going to University are in the process of re-evaluating their identities – they are re-searching (and researching!) themselves,” said Matt in reflection.
“Support to do this ‘re-searching’ is important because it calls for new ways of living life, it acts as a safety net, it evaluates their progress and allows them to consider who they want to be as an adult.”
Matt referred to what he calls “the Four Things” (Family, Education, Mentorship and Meaning) to assist and support young people.
“If these ‘four things’ exist as support networks surrounding them, their physical, emotional and mental health should be in perfect shape for their new transition into adulthood,” he said.
“My time at Cromwell, truth be told, was the single most enjoyable presentation I’ve ever done! It was intrinsically motivating to see the energy that was pouring out of those guys… It made me realise what an exciting time University is for a human being who has now realised their capacity in the world and wants to harness their potential for the future.”
For more information on Cromwell College go to www.cromwell.uq.edu.au
Photo : Cromwell College senior David Stone, Matt Noffs and freshman Adam Bartels. Photo by Mardi Lumsden
