Seton College student Tayhlia Shaw won’t give up on fight to save Seton College
Meet the teenager fighting tooth and nail to save a Brisbane private school after its shock closure was announced, with the 15-year-old saying she is hell-bent on keeping it open because it’s like a “second home” to her.
Southeast
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Meet the teenager behind the fight to save a Brisbane private school, which she believes has changed her life forever, from its shock closure.
Year 10 Seton College student Tayhlia Shaw says she won’t give up on her efforts to save the Mt Gravatt East facility despite Brisbane Catholic Education recently announcing it will shut its doors in 2024.
The decision was made by the BCE after a recent review into the mainstream school, which also caters to students with disabilities and learning difficulties, and its operations.
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However, Tayhlia did not take the news well and was quick to act, starting a Save Seton petition, which now has more than 4500 signatures.
The 15-year-old is hellbent on saving the school even though she will still be able to graduate in 2022.
“I was extremely unhappy to hear about the news of Seton closing as working with and helping the other students around the school has made me want to do a course in education support and hopefully continue with that until I get into university,” she said.
“The reason it is so important that Seton College stays open is because of the life changing opportunities that the school offers.
“It has not only educated students but helped them to blossom as people and make new friendships and most importantly feel like they are equal and respected at Seton instead of trying to be somebody that they aren’t to feel included.
“The response to creating the petition was amazing. It spread all over the school in around a day so it was quite overwhelming knowing everybody knew about it but then again I was doing my part to try and help the school.
“I had students and teachers coming up to me saying they are very proud and thankful that I have made this and I’ve even had some parents message me about it.”
Tayhlia’s efforts have been matched in recent weeks by former and current parents of the school starting a Save Seton committee, while Speech and Language Development Australia have expressed interest in taking over the school’s campus.
She said she would continue to fight until the very end to save the school.
“Seton has helped me in every way possible,” Tayhlia said.
“I started my schooling life at Seton College around the middle of 2017, I originally went to another school but I got in to trouble often as they weren’t able to understand my needs and learning difficulties.
“At Seton I was no longer seen as ‘defiant’, they understood how to work with students like myself and the hundreds of others they’ve helped.
“I feel as though Seton is a second home, I feel I am able to talk to the teachers as if I have known them my whole life, they know me for who I am as they have helped me since the beginning of my journey to become the person I am today.
“Seton has helped me in so many ways it is hard to make a list of all the things it’s done to make my life better.
“One thing for sure I know it has made me feel proud of my indigenous culture. From art all the way to finding our backgrounds it has allowed me to have a better understanding of myself and my family.”