As a member of the Alliance of Girls’ Schools Australasia, Santa Sabina College students derive the immense benefit of the Student Alliance Network. With students from other girls’ schools, our girls explore and reflect on issues concerning women in today’s modern society.
In 2016 we focused on issues such as gender equality in the workforce and the portrayal of women in the media. In 2017 we are looking at facing challenges.
In March a group of 12 students from Years 9-11 attended the first Student Alliance Network Meeting for 2017 at Mount St Benedict College, Pennant Hills.
We started off the year by hearing from an inspirational entrepreneur, Liz Volpe, who empowered and encouraged students never to lose sight of their goals and demonstrated how determination combined with dedication and ambition can lead to success in any area of one’s life. One of Liz’s key take home messages for the students was that tough times don’t last, but tough people do. She went on to explain the importance of adopting the right attitude and mindset when approaching any challenge you are faced with.
Read some of our students’ insights and thoughts from the afternoon:
Whilst Liz Volpe’s speech was very inspirational and taught me to embrace every opportunity and never let doubt or judgement diminish what I believe in, what struck me from her presentation was the importance of goals. Liz introduced the analogy of goals being like goal posts, “all of Australia wouldn’t watch people kicking a ball without the goal posts”. This idea gave me a fresh perspective on how important goals are, and how once we realise our goals, we can realise our potential.
Gabrielle
Year 11
Liz Volpe’s speech was really insightful, and taught me how I can overcome obstacles in my life, and remain positive and confident. She allowed me to consider approaching problems through a new perspective of always saying yes to new opportunities. This can be scary but very rewarding. She also taught me the importance of setting goals, no matter how big or impossible to achieve they may seem at the time.
Isabella
Year 10
Liz Volpe gave a speech that really inspired everyone to be motivated to achieve the things they want no matter how crazy it might seem. She explained that if you put in hard work and dedication, you will achieve success. That was something that I found quite inspiring and I will take on board for the rest of my life.
Elle
Year 9
The overall atmosphere of the meeting itself as well as the talk given by Liz Volpe was empowering. A sense of community and the ability to achieve was the dominant impression left within me as the afternoon came to an end.
Gabrielle
Year 11
The students were inspired by this first session and are keen to continue exploring a range of women’s issues in collaboration with other schools.
Ms Eva Guirguis
Co-Curricular and Student Leadership Coordinator
