I began my journey at Mount Carmel in Year 7 in 2017, and when I look back now, I can see just how much those years shaped me into the person I am today. Mount Carmel gave me far more than an education. It gave me life lessons, strong friendships and a mindset that has stayed with me long after leaving school. One of the biggest things it taught me was to give everything a go and always do my best. That attitude became a huge part of who I was throughout school and is still something I carry with me today.

Throughout my schooling, I loved learning and challenging myself academically, while also constantly trying to improve as an athlete. I especially enjoyed HPE, but I also developed a strong interest in maths, science and sports science. I have so many great memories of the opportunities Mount Carmel gave me to grow in these areas. One of the standout experiences was in Year 7, when I had the opportunity to represent Tasmania, and the College, at the National Da Vinci Decathlon. Travelling to Sydney to compete against schools from all around Australia is something I still remember clearly, especially staying at the Knox Grammar boarding house. It was such an exciting experience at that age, and it taught me so much about teamwork, independence and adapting to new environments.

I also vividly remember competing in the Science and Engineering Challenge at UTAS in both Year 9 and Year 10. One task involved deciding which type of energy source was best suited to a particular scenario. My team and I had completed that same station the year before, so when we came to it again the second year, we were very confident. We finished it so quickly and smoothly that the other teams, and even some of the judges, thought we must have been cheating. At the time, we found it hilarious, and it is still one of those funny school memories that has stuck with me. Experiences like that made learning feel exciting, engaging and genuinely enjoyable.

A huge part of what made Mount Carmel so special was the people. The teachers were incredibly supportive and gave so much of their time and energy to helping students grow, not just academically, but as people. That is something I will always be grateful for. There was such a genuine sense of care within the school community, and I think that is what made it such a welcoming and encouraging place to be.

Perhaps the greatest quality I developed during my time at Mount Carmel was resilience. I loved my schooling journey, but there were definitely times that challenged me. While I was at school, I was also balancing hockey and cricket at a high level outside of school, which meant I had to become very disciplined with my time. If I did not finish work in class, I would often spend lunch breaks in the library getting it done. Looking back, those moments taught me a lot about commitment, sacrifice and staying focused on long term goals. At the time, it just felt like what I had to do, but now I can see how important those habits became in helping me manage the demands of sport, study and work later in life.

Those lessons have stayed with me well beyond school. I am now based in Perth, having originally moved here to be based at the Hockey Australia High Performance Centre. In 2024, I was fortunate enough to be selected to represent Australia at the Paris Olympics, which was an incredible honour and an experience I will never take for granted. Like most sporting journeys, though, it has not always been smooth. I have had multiple injuries, with a dislocated shoulder standing out as one of the tougher setbacks, and I have also faced the disappointment of missing selection at times. Whenever people ask how I have managed to push through those moments, I often think back to my time at Mount Carmel. So many of the values that have helped me navigate challenges, especially resilience, perspective and perseverance, were shaped during those school years.

The friendships I formed at Mount Carmel have also remained such an important part of my life. I am still in contact with many of those friends, and their support over the years has meant so much to me. It is special to know that even as life changes and takes you to different places, those connections remain. Mount Carmel gave me a sense of belonging and a strong foundation, and both have stayed with me.

Alongside my sporting career, I am now also working as an Operations Assistant at Basketball WA and studying a Bachelor of Business in Sport Management online through Deakin University. Sport has taught me that with dedication and perseverance, anything is possible, but Mount Carmel played a huge role in helping me build the mindset that made me believe that from such a young age.

I will always look back on my time at Mount Carmel with a lot of gratitude. It was a place that challenged me, supported me and helped me grow, and I know so much of who I am today started there.