DON’T DIE WONDERING ELIZABETH COX, YEAR 11
In 2012, I was lucky enough to receive an ASSIST scholarship to spend a year at an American school. In 2013, I left half-way through Year 11 to study at Greenhill School, a co-educational private school located in Dallas, Texas. Each week at my new school, a speaker would come to talk to the students at Assembly. One of the speeches has stuck in my mind since I have returned to Australia. Presented by seven-times cancer survivor, Woody Roseland, the speech was about how he chooses to live his life after enduring cancer. He told us that on the back of his phone, it says, ‘don’t die wondering’ — a reminder to himself to take more chances (even if that chance was to ask a cute waitress out on a date). After hearing the speech, I decided to adopt his expression, and use it as a mantra for the year at my new school. Nothing could hold me back from trying new things; if I failed or embarrassed myself, no one would ever know! Also, the fact that my grades in America were not going to ‘count’ gave me all the more reason to try new subjects, sports and other activities that I wouldn’t get the chance to try in Australia. With ‘don’t die wondering’ cemented in my mind, I played new sports like lacrosse and cheerleading. Even though I was by far the least coordinated cheerleader in the team, it was an awesome experience that I will never regret. I also became a member in some of the school’s clubs. In Global Action Club, we talked about current issues facing the world, and I made the effort to voice my opinion and act as a representative for Australia. On Martin Luther King Day, a public holiday, I went to the North Texas Food Bank and worked with other volunteers unpacking and sorting food for distribution to a network of community service agencies. At school, I filled up my schedule with interesting classes like African American History, Fashion Drawing, Video Production and American Government.
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BRISBANE GIRLS GRAMMAR SCHOOL INSIGHTS 2014
| 24 JULY 2014
I formed a girl band for the school talent show with a bunch of my friends. We didn’t make the finals … but we had a blast trying out. I volunteered my Homecoming date and I to represent the 11th Graders in the annual game of ‘do you know your date’. Despite the fact that we hadn’t known each other for long, we came in at second place! I signed up to join my Art History teacher and three other students to hear Renzo Piano, an Italian world-renowned architect speak at a conference at the Nasher Sculpture Center. All of these unique experiences added up to make my year fulfilling and unforgettable — the best year of my life (so far). Now that I’m back at Brisbane Girls Grammar, I can’t help but wonder why can’t every year be like that? Even though Girls Grammar and Greenhill are completely different, our School has just as many experiences to offer. The reason I was able to have such a fun time, was because I completely let go of my inhibitions and embraced every opportunity presented to me. As for my classes in America, instead of worrying about what marks I was getting, I really enjoyed myself and tried out a range of interesting courses. Despite my sudden change in learning and all the extra-curricular and social activities added to my life, I ended up doing pretty well scholastically. Now I know that you can have fun and still do well at school (as long as you try hard)! So, I have decided that Woody Roseland’s expression, ‘don’t die wondering’ will stay with me for much longer than one year. When I graduate from Brisbane Girls Grammar School in 2015, I don’t want to leave wondering what it might have been like to support QGS swimming, or what that Term III Philosophy Café was all about, or what volunteering for the Ecumenical Coffee Brigade would have been like. If my year away has taught me anything, it would be that you should make the most of what you’re given, no matter where you are. Even if you embarrass yourself, you will gain more from trying new things than not trying them at all!