<\/p>\n
One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean. Approaching the boy, he asked, \u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n The youth replied, \u201cThrowing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don\u2019t throw them back, they\u2019ll die.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n \u201cSon,\u201d the man said, \u201cdon\u2019t you realise there are miles and miles of beach and thousands of starfish? You can\u2019t make a difference!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said\u2026\u201dI made a difference for that one.\u201d*<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n For those of us called to serve ‘The Starfish Story’ is the call to duty, knowing that each life you touch matters, even if it is only one. Through a national theme which nurtured specific themed events, this year we have tried to reach you at your corner of your University, at that odd hour of the day, when you had a bad week and those emotions won\u2019t go away.<\/p>\n We want to remind you now and always that just because you\u2019re an architectural student doesn\u2019t mean you aren\u2019t human and we want to remind you that you matter, your part of a bigger network, a leading professional organisation that is striving to make the world a better place trough architecture.<\/p>\n When you have those doubts or fears try and remember this quote, to the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.<\/p>\n As the year draws closer to the end, take a moment to reflect on all that you have accomplished, write down the things you want to try differently next time and I encourage those of you who have never thought about becoming a leader to put your hand up, to join the Sona committee at your university in 2019, if you are feeling brave why not walk through the doorways presenting themselves to you and apply to be a SONA Representative in 2019. Don\u2019t do it because it looks good on your resume, it\u2019s hard work juggling all of these responsibilities and studying. It\u2019s hard work when you are driven by passion. What\u2019s rewarding, is the joy you receive when someone messages you to tell you that they\u2019ve discovered new confidence within themselves, confidence in public speaking.<\/p>\n SONA gave them this opportunity and to see this change first hand in one students life, is beyond rewarding.<\/p>\n Make 2019 your year to give back to the wider community, your year to be more.<\/p>\n #SONAAustralia <\/p>\n * The Starfish Story by Loren Eisley<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\n#permissionistriumph<\/p>\n