26/10/2026
An Inspiring Visit to Sacred Heart College Senior School
Today, our Senior School had the honour of welcoming Dr Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, for a memorable visit filled with inspiration, meaningful conversations and valuable life lessons for our students.
Dr Metsola was welcomed by the College Director Dr Gauci, Head of School Mr Borg, members of the Board of Governors, the Senior Leadership Team, our Head Girl and Sub-head Girl. She then walked through a guard of honour formed by our class prefects and sub-prefects, EkoSkola members, Student Council members and Colour Captains.
During her visit to our school chapel, our Ethos Representatives introduced her to the chapel and shared information about its significance within our school community, as well as the activities organised by our chaplain.
The highlight of the visit was an engaging assembly in our auditorium, where Dr Metsola spent considerable time speaking directly to our students, sharing her experiences, challenges and advice for the future.
Her message was one of courage, kindness, resilience and responsibility.
She encouraged our students to believe in themselves and recognise that they can achieve anything they set their minds to. She reminded them of the importance of asking themselves how they can become better people, treating others with kindness and standing up for what they believe in, even when their opinions may not be shared by everyone.
Speaking openly about her own journey, she shared how losing two electoral contests taught her valuable lessons about perseverance. She encouraged young people not to be afraid of failure, but to learn from it, try again and keep working towards their goals.
As a woman in politics, she spoke candidly about the additional challenges women can face, emphasising the importance of equality, supporting other women and ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to contribute. Inspired by the values passed on by her grandmothers, she reminded our students that the values we inherit and the example we set can shape a fairer society.
She also challenged our students to find their voices. Although speaking up can be difficult, remaining silent when something matters is not always the right choice. She encouraged them to express their views with confidence, to think before reacting, to accept constructive criticism and to remember that it is not how loudly we speak, but the quality of our arguments that earns respect.
In discussing leadership and the use of power, Dr Metsola highlighted the responsibility we all share to make life easier, fairer and safer, particularly for those whose voices are often unheard.
She also addressed the dangers of social media, misinformation and online propaganda, urging our students to think critically about what they see and read, question what they are told and never allow hatred, division and intolerance to go unchallenged.
For those aspiring to enter politics, her advice was practical and encouraging: get involved, learn from experience, listen to people every day, and never be discouraged by setbacks. Trust is earned through the work we do and the way we serve others.
Drawing on our five Sacred Heart Goals — Faith, Character, Community, Intellect and Social Awareness — she reminded our students that the values they develop at school can empower them to make a difference in the world.
Her final message was an important reminder not to forget to have fun along the way and, above all, to treasure the friendships they build during their school years.
Following the assembly, Dr Metsola joined our students on the playground, where she continued answering their questions in a more informal and personal setting. The visit concluded with a group photograph bringing together our entire school community.
We are grateful to Dr Roberta Metsola for giving our students her time, sharing her experiences so openly and encouraging them to become confident, compassionate and responsible citizens.
An inspiring day at Sacred Heart College — reminding us that leadership begins with our values, our choices and the courage to make our voices heard.
