Top Achievers' Assembly

TOP ACHIEVERS' ASSEMBLY

On Tuesday 20 February, the College gathered as a school community to both acknowledge, and to welcome back, the Year 12 top ten academic achievers in VCAL, VCE and VCE Baccalaureate for 2017. As part of this assembly recognition was given to the top achieving VCAL student, the six students who successfully completed their VCE Baccalaureate, the top ten achieving VCE students, the College Dux and the recipient of the Catherine McAuley Student of the Year Award. As part of the assembly it was acknowledged that all award recipients shared something in common, that is, during their time at the College they modelled perseverance, application and dedication towards their studies. All are well deserving of the recognition that has been bestowed upon them. Below is a summary of the students acknowledged and awards presented at the assembly.

SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I have included below excerpts from the excellent and inspiring speeches given by Isabella Preston and Madeline Cimo.

MADELINE CIMO - COLLEGE DUX

To achieve success you must work hard and have in your mind a goal of what you want to achieve. That goal has to be a challenge. It has to be something that is only possible if you work hard so that it encourages you to move beyond your comfort zone and what you think you are capable of. Without a goal there is no direction or motivation. Without a goal there is nothing to work towards so there is no reason to work hard. For me, my goal was to get into Medicine, a very competitive field. Anytime I lost motivation, anytime I couldn’t be bothered, that dream was my reason to keep going. It was something that posed a challenge, something that meant I actually had to focus and work hard. I have achieved my dream, but it did not come easily. It took focus, determination and strong motivation. I also had my fair share of setbacks along the journey, but in the end it was all worth it.

Every single one of my failures were all a part of my journey. These setbacks are a natural part of life and any person who has never failed has never truly succeeded. Every single step backwards allows you to stop, reconsider and take actions that will allow you to move two new steps forward. School, Year 12 and life in general is not simply a path straight forward but is filled with twists and turns, roadblocks and potholes and each and every obstacle is a test. How you react to failure is a measure of how likely you will be to succeed. And if you can not find the courage to overcome the hard things in life you can not progress. Your aspirations can only become reality when you stop considering them as dreams and hopes but begin to actually work at making them a possibility. Last years theme that my fellow prefects and I came up with was a perfect way to put this. “Courage is not the absence of failure but the strength to rise above it.” Each year at school, especially Year 12 requires great courage in order for prosperity to be a part of your end result.

I also want to remind you all, that your time at Mount Lilydale is about more than just the piece of paper at the end of it. It is about the relationships you form with your teachers and peers, the memories you create and the lifelong friendships you make.

Your friends and your teachers are such a crucial part of your journey. They are there for you to turn to when you need assistance, advice or just time to destress. Cherish your friendships and I assure you that one of the most amazing parts of Year 12 is these friendships you form and the memories you make. Whilst year 12 is a time to knuckle down and study, it is also a time to celebrate your years of education and I encourage you to make the most it, because you will be graduating before you know it and you do not want to be left with regrets. Get involved in the community, the Mercy Day parades and celebrations, be a part of the play and musical, sign up for EISM and join any groups that interest you. They are all another opportunity for you to expand your friendships and become more triumphant in any areas you are gifted in. They also just make the year so much easier, because you have things to look forward to and times to put aside your stress and just enjoy yourself.

I got involved in everything I possibly could during my time at Mount Lilydale and it was one of the best decisions I made. I studied hard and spent many hours working towards my academic achievements but I also made sure to keep a balance and have fun. I think that was one of the things that allowed me to keep motivation throughout the year and not burn out. Dancing classes, horse riding, 18ths and hanging out with friends all allowed for me to destress for a few hours, and then return to study after.

I just wanted to finish with reminding you all that every single person in this room has the ability to prosper in whatever it is that they wish to do and all they have to do is persistently work towards their success. But remember there is always another option or pathway to your final goal. So get involved, enjoy your time at Mount Lilydale and appreciate the help that you have readily available to you. Most importantly you are the person that is instrumental towards your success and you have to be the one to make the decision to work hard and see Year 12 as an opportunity to accomplish your goals rather than just a year of stress and tears.

My apologies once again for not being able to be here today and good luck to you all. I believe in every single one of you; you all just have to believe in yourselves and your own capabilities.

ISABELLA PRESTON - CATHERINE MCAULEY STUDENT OF THE YEAR

It is an honour to be standing here today, following so many extraordinary people, as the recipient of the Catherine McAuley Award. I have spent my life hearing about Catherine McAuley, although I guess that’s what happens when your family have been a part of this Mercy school for over 40 years. When they are almost a time capsule for all that has happened and tell the stories of not only Catherine, but those who came after her, constantly sharing her values of compassion, respect and service, in trying to make this world a better place. I have been fortunate enough to meet so many of these strong women, whether they were welcoming me to the AMSSA conference, speaking at an assembly or sitting at my dining room table, they spread the word of Catherine, her love and compassion to all who will listen. They inspired me to do what was right, and what was in my heart, rather than what was necessarily popular at the time. Just as they did for many of the previous Catherine McAuley recipients.

It was in reflecting on these people that I realised what I wanted to speak to you about today. In your life at the college, however short it may have been, how many people have said to you get involved? How many have said that school is made so much better by the extra things you do alongside your school work? Their right!! Yet how many have told you why this is? Or better yet, how to ‘get involved’?

You see for me the answer to these questions, how and why, is quite simple. To ‘get involved’ you: firstly find something that you like to do. Then you figure out how to do this with other people. And finally, yet I believe most importantly, you find a way to do this which help others.

I can see a few perplexed faces so how about I try explaining this again. Two of my favourite things to do are solve puzzles, be it jigsaw or real world problems, and create things, from music to props or origami. I took these things I was passionate about and found places I could go to develop my skills and collaborate with others. And I did, whether I was creating props and costumes out of straws and pipe cleaners in Tournament of Minds; Singing the alleluia in choir; marking the stage with the crew for a show, preparing the Easter Liturgy with my Youth Ministry Class or solving an everyday inconvenience with the Student Council. I found a way to express my passions with likeminded people.

You may be thinking but how do these things, which many of you here already do, actually help anyone? Well sometimes helping people is more than just giving goods or money.

Sometimes its about showing a fellow student that they aren’t alone in their love of math, or robotics, or origami, or religion, or lawn bowls, and by doing so someone in our community feels a little less alone. And that is helping someone, as much so as when you give money or food.

So I’m going to ask you all this, instead of saying ‘Get involved’ why don’t we say become a part of our broad community, because we are a school where individuals are taught to thrive. And we walk around with this individuality pinned to our blazers. I have always looked at my badges as mementos of time spent doing something I love, and reminders of service or commitment, or sometimes just fun, rather than a parade of what I’ve accomplished. Because what I gained when I joined Tournament, or Choir, or the musical, Youth Ministry, or the SRC, was friends, confidence, a broader world view and the opportunity to help others. Because sometimes the kindest thing you can do is sit and listen, whether it is to a current or future friend.

So what would be my advice to all of you, in trying to create the most fulfilling time at the College? Join our broader community and use your passions and talents to guide you to the activities that make getting out of bed a little bit easier in August, the stairs a little easier to climb and where you can make a difference, even if just in one persons life.