My journey, my way

As my time at Trinity draws to a close, I’ve been reflecting on where these years have taken me and, perhaps more importantly, on the person I will be when I leave.

If there is one word I would use to describe what Trinity has given me, it is ‘belief’.

Not the belief that I need to become a particular kind of person, but the belief that I can discover who I want to be. Trinity’s culture, opportunities and, most importantly, its people, have given me the confidence and backing to try things I never expected to try, challenge myself and find my own path.

When I arrived in Year 7, an older student gave me some simple advice: give everything a go at least twice. I took that seriously. Over the years, I’ve found myself debating, performing, exploring STEM, designing miniature Formula 1 cars, raising sponsorship, undertaking university study and taking on leadership roles. Some of the experiences that have stayed with me most were the ones that challenged what I thought I could do.

But looking back, it isn’t the achievements I will remember most.

Every Friday, the lunchtime bell rings at 1:00pm, prompting students to finish their play early to board a bus and head to Bulleen. While most nine to 12 year olds would hate seeing their lunchtime cut short, the prospect of heading to 63 acres of open sporting fields is a very alluring one. The bus ride to Bulleen also offers an exciting opportunity to enjoy the adventure of travelling somewhere beyond the school gates. Students will often pair up with a friend and spend this time chatting.

On arrival at Bulleen, the students are greeted with green grass as far as the eye can see. They often then have the chance to choose a sport to participate in and compete against teams representing each of the Houses. During the summer season, this can include cricket, softball, tennis and football. The winter sports include AFL football, soccer and handball.

It is the people. The teachers who have invested in me and my future and the friends with whom I’ve shared the highs, lows and sheer craziness of our final year. There is something pretty special about seeing a group of 18-year-old boys genuinely moved by the friendships they have formed at school.

I’m not going to say I’ll be heartbroken to leave. I’ll miss the rhythms of the small moments that make each day meaningful, the candid conversations with teachers and the camaraderie of my cohort. But I also feel ready to move forward.

People often say that school has made them the person they are today. I don’t think that is quite true for me. My time at Trinity has been deeply formative, but the Green and Gold doesn’t produce a single mould for its graduates.

Instead, it has given me the opportunity to become the person I want to be: conscientious, compassionate and quietly confident. I leave grateful for the journey, proud of the person I have become and excited by the uncertainty of what comes next.