Meet our 2023 Co-Captains

As we begin a new year, we hear from Holly and Sophie, Lauriston’s 2023 Co-Captains. They reflect on their time at Lauriston thus far, their goals and how they wish to make a positive impact on the entire community.

Congratulations on your appointment as Co-Captains. Can you share with us what your hopes are for your year of leadership?

Sophie: This year, I am hoping that Holly and I can make a huge positive impact on the School. When I was in Year 10, I often went to talk to my sister’s Year 12 friends and consult with them on things like whether or not I should do VCE or IB or what subjects to choose. Having older girls to guide me was really important so I’d like to like to help create an even greater sense of unity between year levels and make sure that younger girls feel comfortable talking to older students, siblings or not.

Holly: After such an uncertain few years, students have missed out on many opportunities to build relationships and try new things. So we also want to encourage girls to get involved in all that Lauriston has to offer and take advantage of the

opportunities that we are given. With so many exciting activities and opportunities to connect with one another, we want to create a culture of fun and camaraderie, where girls are there to support each other.

Holly, your family has many connections with Lauriston and you first walked through the gates in Prep. What are some of your favourite Lauriston memories to date?

Holly: Yes, my Lauriston journey began on the first day of Prep! A lot of the women in my family have gone to Lauriston, too. My mum graduated in 1985 and my aunt in 1986. My sister graduated in 2018, and my cousins have also graduated recently in 2017 and 2021.

Blairholme has so many wonderful memories for me, from the Teddy Bear Picnics to the letter walk which I know still happen today. I remember doing music in the music shed, playing in the fairy garden and climbing up the big tree. My favourite memory from my first year at Lauriston would have to be the Blairholme Picnic Races, where I proudly wore Andrews House colours for the very first time.

Sophie, you also have family connections and you joined in Year 7. What have been some of your highlights and what do you think makes Lauriston such a special place?

Sophie: My mum and aunt both went to Lauriston. They are identical twins who graduated together in 1988. I joined in Year 7 and a standout memory was camp at the beginning of that year. As a new student, I was struggling to make new friends – camp in Term 1 gave me the opportunity to change this, as I got to know the girls in my cabin really well. A specific memory is the night that a kangaroo jumped past someone’s cabin and the whole year level spiralled into believing that an axe-murderer was on the loose. Although everyone was pretty terrified at the time, it became an impetus towards creating long-lasting school friendships that I maintain today!

At Lauriston, the relationships students have with one another are unlike any of the relationships I have observed at other schools, or in my primary school. And I think this can be attributed to Howqua. Girls at Lauriston are outgoing and not afraid to challenge expectations or flaunt their achievements. This is something that I value greatly. Within my year level, and many others, girls do not shy away from experiencing all the opportunities Lauriston has to offer; from choirs, to Debating, Model UN and Drama performances. These activities are not considered ‘nerdy’ or ‘try-hard’, but rather there is a competitive nature to them. Girls attempt as much as they can and this is something that my friends from other schools confirm as unique about our community. There can often be a stigma around being judged by others when trying new things, and this is something that I feel doesn’t exist at Lauriston.

Holly: I agree and my year at Howqua wasn’t smooth sailing. There were so many challenges and disruptions, and at times I thought that I couldn’t do it. But it was these hard times that made it such a rewarding experience. I gained so much confidence in myself and my own abilities and at the same time developed a sense of achievement and pride in myself. During the Howqua year, you rely so much on your support network of friends and teachers. I knew that if I was cold and wet and tired, so were the girls I was hiking with. Similarly, if I was in awe of a mountain view, so were my peers. We laughed together and supported each other, and it made me realise how strong friendship can be.

As you head into your final year, can you tell us a little about your studies and why you chose VCE or IB?

Holly: I am currently studying VCE and loving it! I chose VCE because I find that my learning style is more suited to a more structured syllabus. There was a lot of thought that went into that decision, but I really like that you can choose any subjects for VCE. This year, I am doing Business Management, Psychology, Chemistry, Maths Methods, Studio Arts and English.

Sophie: I chose IB and study Chemistry, Maths AA SL, English Literature, Economics, Visual Arts, Theory of Knowledge and French. One of the main reasons for choosing IB was simply having the opportunity to do so. There are so few schools in Victoria that offer the International Baccalaureate, and I figured that as so many students would jump at the chance to do so if they could, it would be a waste of an opportunity for me to turn it down. Studying Theory of Knowledge allows me to pursue philosophical and political interests that I wouldn’t be able to experience in VCE. The course is incredible, and as I have a broad range of interests, IB was the perfect choice for me.

Finally, what do you think will stay with you when you leave Lauriston at the end of 2023 and does your year level have a legacy it would like to leave for future Lauriston students?

Holly: I have always loved coming to School and I hope every girl sees School a really fun place to be, and that they enjoy coming to School. The relationships I have built and the memories I have made will stay with me most when I leave Lauriston. All the people who have been a part of my life, both peers and teachers, will definitely have a lasting influence on me. My teachers have been such wonderful role models, and have encouraged me to be curious, and to constantly ask questions. I’m sure a love of learning that started through my teachers will follow me beyond graduation.

Sophie: If anything, I want to leave the School in the best position for future students to thrive in. I hope to inspire girls towards pursuing their goals and studying hard for themselves, not others. And for girls to genuinely feel as though they can do anything they put their minds to.