Life after Radford – Year 11 Retreat in February 2021

On Thursday 11 February 2021, Gaj Ravichandra (Class of 1995), Sue Ryle and Ross King (Class of 1996) and Anne Martens (Class of 1997) were welcomed by the Year 11 students at their Retreat located at Greenhills, Stromlo. A venue that Anne and Ross recall attending when they were in Year 11. The students enjoyed listening to the Collegians experiences whilst at College and beyond. Some students also shared with us on what they took from the session.

Gaj kicked off the Life after Radford session with a game that is used by the American Basketball Dream Team. The team building activity involves two people standing face to face with their hands behind their back, after 10 seconds they need to hold up a certain number of fingers and who ever counts the fingers first wins that round. Three rounds a played but it doesn’t matter who is in the lead – the overall winner is the one who wins the final round.

The session was led by two Year 11 students – Claudia Kendall and Joshua Kingston, both jumped at the opportunity to be involved in this session and did a wonderful job asking a number of questions to the Collegians.

Joshua shared, “I have never done anything like this before – interviewing people. While the audience and cameras were slightly nerve inducing, I learnt how to think in the moment about changing our questions to suit the situation. I also learnt to appreciate what the speakers were saying in a different way. Firstly, because I was listening right beside them and secondly as I actively listened to what was being said so I didn’t ask about something already covered. 

The session was professionally filmed and we look forward to sharing the footage with you in the coming weeks.

We thank the students who shared what they took away from attending this session:

• Chase what you want to do.

• Follow your gut and keep your contacts.

• Life is not always straight forward.

• That friendship bonds will last for a while.

• That you have to take control of your life in order to succeed.

• You don’t always have to know exactly what you want to do after school.

• High school is not the be all and end all, there are lots of opportunities out there and ways to achieve your goal.

• To keep a balance between work and fun, and it doesn’t matter if you don’t know what your going to do because if you just try different things, then you will find something you will enjoy.

• Life can take you anywhere, anytime.

• Plan around your social interactions.

• That I’ve got to think about my future but not stress to much about it.

• There isn’t always one set path to achieve your goals.

• That there are numerous opportunities and pathways that you can undertake to achieve your academic goals.

• To enjoy college while it lasts.

• Grades aren’t everything, building personal skills can be just as useful.

• I can find a career by pursuing degrees/subjects in uni that I find interesting, rather than ones that would lead me to a specific job.

• Your life can change at anytime and what you choose to do now might not affect the future that much.

• It does not matter if you are unsure about what to do, your passion will eventually come to you.

• That you don’t have to know what you want to do now and that you have time to make up your mind and so something you love.

• Be kind to others!