Life beyond Radford
Alicia Slater
What does life look for you now?
Life is living in Melbourne, with a heart and mind full of travel memories over the years.
When you were young, what were you hoping to be when you grew up?
A vet, until I realised the sad parts about that occupation.
What is your favourite Radford moment?
Way, way too many. But right up there near the top was celebrating with Ms Kruse-Hoyne the day after she became an Australian Citizen, and she was my tutor at the time, and she brought us all lamingtons. But more broadly, Year 9 Camp - it was an experience which made unsure 15 year olds into somewhat more well-rounded people through challenges to foster independence and maturity, and getting to know strangers in your peer group who became firm friends.
Do you have a particular role model or inspirational figure from Radford or now?
This one without a doubt in my mind would be Jonquil Mackey. It is with a very very heavy heart I write this. She was a phenomenal teacher and friend, she saw potential in every single student who stepped into her classroom, and those who wanted to learn and grow, she was right there beside them. Those who didn't, she was still right there beside them. She was constantly inspiring her students to think creatively and "outside the box" (in a school which pushes academia, it was very refreshing) and did it all with a smile. She was my Year 9 Camp Tutor, and after Year 9 Camp we became firm friends, even catching fairly regularly up after I'd finished school. She will be dearly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing her.
How easy was it to decide what to do in life?
On a scale of 1 to 10, it was an 11. I think it's important to find things that come easily to you and mirror those traits with a role that challenges you in equal parts. It is also crucial to have a life outside employment.
It's definitely not easy, and some days/weeks are better than others but ultimately if you are overall grateful and content, that is a life being well lived.
Did your further study or career go exactly as you'd planned?
Absolutely not, I started off wanting to do journalism because I like the idea of using words to tell someone else's story, however, I was turned off this idea when I had a university course in which we were told "write what the people want to hear". I then got into law, finished my law degree (did a year of medicine up in Queensland somewhere in the mix too), moved to Melbourne and finished my Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice. I now work as a family lawyer.
What do you know now, that you wish you'd known when you were at Radford?
I know everyone says it but your ATAR is literally just a number, yes it might help you in the very short term once you finish school but what matters is your attitude, determination and motivation.
What advice do you have for current students?
Don't worry too much about being the best at everything and/or comparing yourself to others, find your passion and work on that. Also, university is definitely not the only option out there.
Anything else that you would like to share?
If the opportunity arises to go overseas with the school - take it and don't look back. So many years later, I still regret not going on a trip to Mozambique that was offered when I was in Year 12.