JOURNEYING WITH YOUTH
By John Tzantzaris
Deputy Principal, St Aloysius’ College, Milsons Point, NSW
Since commencing here as Principal, John Browne has made it a daily practice to greet the boys at the Aloys gates each morning with a handshake and a word of welcome. At first, this deliberate gesture was met with some surprise and hesitancy.
For many students, the disruption of COVID had reshaped long established social customs and handshakes had given way to fist bumps, nods, or brief acknowledgements at a distance. Over time, however, more and more boys have come to recognise the handshake as an intentional act of courtesy, confidence, and genuine human connection.
Leadership development specialist Holly Ransom, in this recent piece, reflects on the power of the handshake, particularly when paired with eye contact, in building trust and mutual respect. Historically, the handshake dates back to ancient times as a gesture of peace, used to demonstrate that no weapon was being held. Across Assyrian, Greek and Roman cultures, it symbolised trust, agreement, and shared responsibility. It was never intended to be a throwaway or incidental act. Rather, it conveyed a clear and powerful message:
I see you. I acknowledge you. I stand by what follows.
Across cultures, greetings take many forms: bowing in parts of Asia, the pressing of noses in Maori tradition, embraces or kisses in parts of Europe and the Arab world. While these customs differ, they share a common purpose: recognising the dignity of the other. The handshake has emerged globally as one of the most familiar expressions of this recognition – a physical gesture that affirms relationship, presence and mutual respect.
Ransom offers a powerful example from German politics through Robert Habeck. In December 2021, on his second day as Minister for Climate and Economic Affairs, with an energy crisis looming, Habeck gathered all 2,500 staff in his ministry and shook the hand of every single person. This was not an act of mere symbolism or courtesy; it was an act of leadership. Through that gesture, Habeck signalled accountability, that decisions made would bear his name, that he stood with his people, and that leadership requires risk rather than distance. As he later observed, “Leadership means risk-taking. It’s not protection-taking.”
In that moment, trust was established before policy, and relationship before direction.
In much the same way, John Browne’s daily handshake with each boy at the gates is far more than a greeting. It is a tangible expression of Jesuit values at the heart of St Aloysius’ College – cura personalis, the care for the whole person; respect for the inherent dignity of each individual; and leadership grounded in service rather than status. Each handshake communicates:
You are known, you matter, you belong here.
Importantly, the handshake is inseparable from eye contact. To look someone in the eye when greeting them is to give them your attention in a world increasingly shaped by distraction. It signals presence, respect, and authenticity. At Aloys, we deliberately form boys to understand that how they greet others reflects who they are becoming.
This formation extends well beyond the gates. It is reflected in classrooms, when boys say thank you to their teacher at the end of a lesson and meet their gaze. It is evident on sporting fields, when hands are shaken at the end of a match, whether in victory or defeat, acknowledging effort, fairness, and respect for the opposition. It is present in debating, where robust intellectual contest is always balanced by courtesy and personal decency. These quiet, everyday interactions are the moments that shape character.
Crucially, many of these moments occur when no one is watching, when there is no applause, no scoreboard, no recognition. Jesuit education has always been attentive to these quiet spaces of formation. St Ignatius reminds us that who we are is revealed not in grand gestures, but in habitual acts. The small, consistent choices – how we greet others, how we show gratitude, how we respect even those we disagree with, are where values take root.
In nurturing these practices, St Aloysius’ College forms boys not only as academic learners, but as young men of character – attentive to others, confident without being arrogant, and grounded in empathy. Each morning, each simple but intentional handshake at the Aloys’ gates models this formation in action. Paired with eye contact, it reinforces the message that every person is worthy of dignity and presence, and that leadership begins not with position or authority, but with relationship, respect, and responsibility.
In these small but intentional moments, our boys are being shaped to lead with integrity in a complex and demanding world – men for and with others, formed quietly, faithfully, and well.
“The handshake dates back to ancient times as a gesture of peace, used to demonstrate that no weapon was being held. Across Assyrian, Greek and Roman cultures, it symbolised trust, agreement, and shared responsibility.” Banner image concept spanning centuries by David McMahon, created using Canva’s Magic Media app.