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Overcoming Challenges to Achieve Academic (and Life) Success
“If you don’t own your own stories, they will own you.”
During the Week 4 VCE meeting, we invited Ruth Clare to deliver a session for our VCE students. In acknowledging the challenging year that many of our students faced in 2020, the session focussed on overcoming challenges to achieve academic (and life) success.
Ruth is the award-winning author of the acclaimed memoir, Enemy (Penguin, 2016). She is also a TEDx and keynote speaker, copywriter and teacher. Her work has appeared in publications such as Meanjin, Elle, The Good Weekend and Better Reading.
Ruth’s presentation was both emotional and inspiring. Her schooling was fraught with significant family trauma, however she learnt to ‘own her story’ and achieve excellent Year 12 results.
She also discussed the need for students to have a Plan B and never give up. Things may not go according to plan, but the key message was to be open to alternative pathways in order to achieve career and life goals.
I was so proud of our VCE students during the session. They were respectful and attentive. Ruth’s feedback was similarly positive; she was so impressed with our students and felt honoured to be able to share her story with them.
Thank you Ruth.
Inspiring Leadership Opens Doors for Mercedees
Mercedees Lynch – 2021 destination
Name: Mercedees Lynch (2020 School Captain)
Subjects completed (VCE): English, Further Maths, Physical Education, Health and Human Development, Biology and Outdoor Education.
Favourite subject: Outdoor Education was my favourite subject as I was able to experience some of the most incredible places [and] activities, and it opened my eyes to new perspectives. I was able to complete this subject with an amazing group; we were able to experience new things together and support one another.
2021 destination: Bachelor of Occupational Therapy – Australian Catholic University (ACU). I was also accepted into the Community Achiever Program at ACU, which recognised my extra-curricular experience in leadership and supporting the broader community.
What resources did you use to support your career decision-making?
Over the years, what I believed my future career would be changed many times. I had lots of support from Ms Blythman in helping my decision-making. Undertaking a variety of subjects gave me a lot of insight into what I enjoyed learning about.
I went to several Open Days to get a feel of the universities and what they have to offer. I cannot recommend going to them enough! Open Days are your chance to hear more about different courses and grab a feel of the university itself, which I found helped me so much.
Any final ‘words of wisdom’ for the Senior School community?
It is OK if you don’t know what you 100 per cent want to do with your life. It is not easy to make huge decisions as a teenager. Keep trying new things. Do not worry about what the future has to hold because after the year we have just had, we know anything is possible so try to focus on the present. Look forward to the future but do not rush the present time because you never know what is right around the corner. Good luck and I wish you all the very best!
Thank you Mercy. We wish you all the best in your future endeavours.
Take care,
Ms Sarah Blythman
Head of Careers and Student Pathways
