Dr Bruce Manners
Senior minister
Avondale College Seventh-day Adventist Church
The return of Jessica Watson after 210 days sailing around the world was a bit of a circus, with every move monitored by several million around the nation. There was certainly no privacy for the welcome from parents and family, or from long-range lenses at a private welcome-home party later in the evening.
Yet it was also inspirational.
She was called the most important person in Australia by the New South Wales premier, Kristina Keneally, “because you made the prime minister and New South Wales premier and all these people wait for hours for your return.” Strong winds had made her three hours late.
The Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said she was a hero “for young Australians . . . and young Australian women.”
Her response was simple: “I don’t consider myself a hero.” Then she added something that demonstrated maturity beyond her 16 years. Listen:
“I’m an ordinary girl who believed in a dream. You don’t have to be someone special . . . to achieve something amazing. You just have to have a dream, believe in it and work hard.”
She may believe herself ordinary, but she’s achieved something quite remarkable. The Courier Mail tells us she left as a “knockabout teenager” to return as an “A-list celebrity.” Let’s hope her celebrity status will not take away the down-to-earth approach to life she has.
Her challenge now is to not allow the demands and attention that celebrity status brings to devour her. This could be a bigger challenge than sailing the world.
If what we saw on television is a guide, she’s a well-balanced young woman who dreams big. Her dream now is to move away from the spotlight and finish school. That’s a good call.
Jessica Watson may not consider herself a hero, but she is an inspiration.
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