2020 school captains from Knox share hopes, dreams for future
They’re often thought of as selfie-taking showoffs — but our next crop of leaders are anything but. We asked Melbourne Year 12 school captains what difference they can make to the world. Here’s what those from Knox, Belgrave and surrounds offer.
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Change is inevitable — but what kind of world do our next generation of young leaders want to live in, and how will they play a role in making it happen?
In our second annual special report on Tomorrow’s Leaders, we asked school captains across the length and breadth of metropolitan Melbourne: “What action will you take to make a difference in your community?”
Captains of 216 schools responded, and the thought provoking and inspiring words of those from our local schools are published here.
A representative group of 26 of these young leaders, featured on the front cover of every local special print edition, gathered with us at State Parliament recently to extrapolate on their thoughts, and meet Premier Dan Andrews, who took the time to offer them some encouraging words to forge their own path as they prepare to take on the world.
One of the most inspiring observations from this gathering was how easily these confident young people networked with each other, despite never having met.
It reminds us great leaders are also great communicators.
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BAYSIDE, CAULFIELD AND PORT PHILLIP SCHOOL CAPTAINS
FRANKSTON AND GREATER DANDENONG SCHOOL CAPTAINS
LILYDALE, YARRA VALLEY AND MAROONDAH SCHOOL CAPTAINS
ROWVILLE SECONDARY COLLEGE — EAST CAMPUS
Jessica Daish, 17 and James Ydreos, 17
Following the news that the college would be focusing on “Respect” as the school-wide theme for 2020, we thought it was only obvious to extend this theme to the broader community. Being respectful and polite towards other individuals can greatly benefit one’s wellbeing and ultimately improve community connection.
Respectful relationships are formed, resulting in a welcoming environment for all.
When everyone is polite and respectful to one another; growth, unity and harmony will not only be present but will also continue to improve to great heights.
Unfortunately, respect is not shown to the degree that is needed within society today.
As captains of Rowville Secondary College, the action we will take to make a difference is to ensure respect is shown, observed and carried out by our students, not only in the classroom but also in the community.
We will achieve this by being active role models in both our personal and school lives and by simply treating others the way we wish to be treated, with respect.
We are willing and ready to challenge stereotypes, welcome all, respect ourselves, our school and our community.
WAVERLEY CHRISTIAN COLLEGE, WANTIRNA SOUTH
Li-Nelle Teo, 17 and Joshua Ottinger, 17
Scrolling through a social media feed we can’t but notice the enviable lives of others. The exciting holidays. Beautifully prepared meals. A ‘highlights reel’ showcasing the best parts of life.
Not to mention the endless repetitive clutter of clickbait articles dragging the focus of youth deeper into the world of mindless consumerism.
A world that tells them, “Your life isn’t as good as it should be,” while sucking their attention away from their potential. A culture of comparison grips the heart of our generation.
We want to shift this culture of comparison into a culture that supports and starts meaningful conversations with one another.
We aim to encourage young individuals to use their social media platforms with the purpose of creating a safe space to share our experiences.
Together, we want to create a community that embraces the flaws that we choose to hide. Transforming our community to be vulnerable with our real, everyday lives creates opportunities for genuine conversations.
Imagine a community that empowers one another. By sharing and being vulnerable we can encourage others to do the same. Our challenge this year: showcase your “real reel” to spark conversation rather than just “the highlights”.
ST ANDREWS CHRISTIAN COLLEGE, WANTIRNA SOUTH
Theophanis Katsigiannis, 17 and Katelyn Farmer, 18
We understand that it is an honour to be given school captain positions for 2020 and we are extremely grateful for this.
Captaincy is an opportunity that allows us to inspire young people; to not only have an impact on students at school, but also in the wider community too.
The first difference that we aspire to make in the community, is to encourage our peers to volunteer and become active in their communities, while speaking up about issues they feel affects them and others in their area.
We believe that the opinions and beliefs of the youth of our communities are crucial to creating a positive community atmosphere for future years to come.
It is crucial for students to not become complacent to standards and norms that they do not believe in. Change is a must in an ever-developing society, and the youth that we strive to inspire are the leaders of it.
As leaders of St Andrews Christian College, our aspiration is to inspire and be the best role models we can possibly be.
We hope that this will result in students being voluntarily active in their community and truly passionate about making a difference for the future years to come. We are excited for what 2020 holds!
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MOORABBIN, MORDIALLOC AND CHELSEA SCHOOL CAPTAINS
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NORTHCOTE, PRESTON AND HEIDELBERG SCHOOL CAPTAINS
NORTHERN, SUNBURY AND MACEDON RANGES SCHOOL CAPTAINS
THE KNOX SCHOOL, WANTIRNA SOUTH
Nathan Lim, 17 and Hannah McKnight, 17
At the dawn of the new decade, now – more than ever – bold young leaders are emerging – surpassing barriers to create positive and sustainable change in their local and wider community.
Leadership isn’t a destination set in stone; it is a journey with no given guidelines or handbook. It requires agility, adapting to the changing environment and navigating the unique and complex challenges in society.
When you think of a leader, is it someone who is autocratic? Or someone who guides you to become a better version of yourself, inspiring you to find your passions and achieve your potential?
We view our roles as a privilege and an opportunity to encourage the creative freedom of our peers and generate positive influence in our community; to work in unison towards our vision through the engagement and authentic representation of student voice.
A leader is someone who doesn’t take shortcuts to gain the respect of their followers. It is through perseverance, resilience and empathy for others that the spark of this trust can be kindled.
We challenge ourselves with this responsibility; to be the ones to embrace change and demonstrate to others that, although not always easy, it is possible.
BELGRAVE HEIGHTS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
Jodie Ottosson, 17 and Lachlan Unusu, 18
The sun will always rise in the morning and then set in the afternoon.
Time will run its inevitable course regardless of how it is spent.
So, when envisioning the actions we will make for our community we shouldn’t view it as, “this is how we would like to see it” but rather as, “this is how we are going to make it”.
The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams, so when we think of our future community, we dream of what we will work to make a reality.
We will not live as victims of the past, but rather be optimistic for the future. We will not be bound to our adversities, but rather unite to overcome them. We will not be driven by fear but rather fuelled by passion.
We will turn our hardships into a reason to succeed, and our pain into motivation to triumph. We will act to create a sustainable world where the needs of the present are met without compromising the needs of the future, a world without suffering or despair, and most importantly, we will strive for a community full of flying cars, jet packs and x-ray goggles.
MATER CHRISTI COLLEGE, BELGRAVE
Lillie Park Jenkinson, 17 and India Griffiths, 17
In our fast-paced modern world, it is imperative that our generation continues to work towards creating an equal and enabled world – one that challenges stereotypes and celebrates women’s achievements, in every aspect of society.
At Mater Christi College, we are united in our belief that our generation can create positive improvements, following the theme for the 2020 International Women’s Day: #EachForEqual. This theme embodies the very essence of our philosophy at Mater Christi, where, as leaders and young women, we are encouraging collective individualism, as well as celebrating the achievements of women in leadership, the media, the workforce and a multitude of other domains.
Women play a vital part in our future and our generation can make a difference by supporting young leaders, such as dedicated activist Greta Thunberg who is fighting for immediate action to address our climate crisis. Leaders, such as Greta, teach our generation that age is a not a hindrance and that women have the influence to generate immense global change.
Our generation empowers young women to express themselves freely and unapologetically, in a world that requires active female involvement and provides every young person with the ability to influence our future.
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WHITEHORSE AND MANNINGHAM SCHOOL CAPTAINS
WHITTLESEA AND DIAMOND VALLEY SCHOOL CAPTAINS
ROWVILLE SECONDARY COLLEGE — WEST CAMPUS
Tiana Massin, 17 and Cooper Denny, 17
Our generation is growing up in a time where modern technology is having a significant influence on how we go about our lives.
As college captains, we want to encourage productive use of this technology as it will bring about significant opportunities for our youth in the future.
The mobile phone ban among Victorian Government schools is a stepping stone towards using technology in a more rewarding manner.
We have been using this opportunity to guide students to focus their energies on developing productive behaviour as well as building stronger and more meaningful relationships with their peers.
This increase in our social skills comes with benefits that exceed far beyond just the school grounds. Now more than ever, there is a growing demand for face-to-face communication and interpersonal skills, as well as higher cognitive skills,
By encouraging people to be curious and critical thinkers, we hope to set up Rowville Secondary College students to be better prepared for a future full of change.
Well equipped with the relevant skills and attributes, combined with access to the latest technological advancements at our fingertips, everyone will have the ability to go and make a difference to the world.
BAYSWATER SECONDARY COLLEGE
Sophie Holloway, 17 and Jarrod Hillam, 17
As we move further into this century we are beginning to run into more and more challenges. This includes the many mental health issues and difficulties that one in every five youth suffer or the ever growing impact of social media on the wider community.
We would like to see more support for youth struggling with mental health issues.
As school captains we believe we have the opportunity to get our school involved with mental health organisations and the community. Instead of trying to avoid the ever growing impact of social media we would like society to start to embrace it and use it more to help aid people who require it.
For example, social media is portrayed as having a negative impact on mental health.
We would like to see a shift in the way social media is used and can be used to promote a more positive change in attitudes towards mental health.
BORONIA K-12 COLLEGE
Samuel Tomlins, 18 and Abbey Ross, 17
I think leadership is about inspiring and motivating a group of people to achieve a common goal or complete something they thought could never be done.
A good leader maximises the efficiency of a community not only to achieve goals or tasks but also to complete them to the best of their ability.
A great leader should have integrity, resilience, good communication skills and a large positive attitude. I plan to make a difference in my school community and apply the skills and traits I just spoke about.
— Sam Tomlins
I would like to be involved again with the Foothills Community Care, because this year I saw our community contribute as a whole. It was great to see us all work as a team and make a difference. It was very interesting to see what one person could do to a family that was in need on Christmas Day; it was truly beautiful. I will volunteer at some soup kitchens and stew days with some VCAL students working alongside Foothills. Foothills came to our school to speak to the VCAL class in 2019 it really touched me and I do hope that I can keep on helping them.
— Abbey Ross
UPWEY HIGH SCHOOL
Nathan Zietz, 17, Casey Ros, 17, Elizabeth Beekman, 17 and Ruby Jensen, 17
The generation we young leaders live in sits us on a vantage point like no other.
With access to endless resources, it is the changes we produce that set the tone for the community. Embracing change, adapting to problems and being aware of the effects our choices can make, will ultimately help us to become the people of tomorrow that are looked upon for guidance. However, it’s up to us to end the ever-growing problems among our younger communities.
As the mental health within youth is steadily declining, we as a cohort need to continually respect each other and reach a level of understanding with constant support.
With social media usage rising by the day, we need to be advocating the positive usage of these platforms.
As the generation that has grown up with constant exposure to social media, the tendency for malicious acts over these platforms has increased.
Through correct education, we, the leaders of tomorrow, will be able to help push for safer uses of mass media.
There should be a high level of caution within these platforms, to reduce the number of youth suffering from mental health related conditions. Through civility and empathy, we can assist one another with proper values and ethics, throughout everyone’s journeys.
SCORESBY SECONDARY COLLEGE
Shannen Toogood, 17 and Zac Tarquinio, 17
I am committed to changing the perception of youth in our community.
In representing students, I see my role to be modelling positive actions to encourage others to follow; whether it be by placing waste in the correct bins, helping others in need, giving a smile or even providing a compliment.
In displaying a positive attitude, empathy and good citizenship skills, I hope to spark others to do the same.
The more I can support youth engagement and teamwork, the greater the impact we as the leaders of tomorrow can make to not just their own lives, but also to the lives of others.
— Shannen Toogood
In 2020 I am looking forward to providing a voice for students to make a difference in our college and local community.
I hope to achieve this through engagement with local council, members of parliament and continued student representation on projects with Victoria Police, Rotary and other key organisations.
Creation of opportunities for student voice to be heard in forums where they can have real influence with decision makers, will enable students to shape and develop their futures.
I am also looking forward to volunteering in activities and interacting with the public so I can support community actions for the students I represent.
— Zac Tarquinio