Daughter of Sion Award

The 2022 Daughter of Sion Award was awarded to Sarita Tanzimat.

At the start of Year 8 I wanted to be the best version of myself by volunteering for different areas of the school and getting things done – not just well, but extremely well. I helped people in many areas of the school and stayed as positive as ever. I made the most of last year by putting my name down for activities in the Liturgy and Performing Arts areas like the Lenten Liturgy and many other offerings such as the College Choir and the Junior production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. By involving myself in these opportunities, I was able to communicate with students from different year levels who probably had more or less experience than me with these kinds of things.

There were so many main projects last year that I wanted to be involved in. As a 2022 Liturgy rep, I took part in the Lenten Liturgy and the Anzac/Easter Liturgy. Towards the end of the year, I was accepted into the College Vocal Ensemble (CVE) where I participated in a lot of musicthemed events, and this helped me earn colours on my blazer.

There are so many things that I just love about Sion that it is difficult to narrow it down. One of the highlights would be that I have met so many people. Sion has given me the chance to talk to new people and make new friends to have a great time with, that I wouldn’t change for the world.

The term ‘friends’ does not have to be people that you sit with every recess and lunch; it’s the people you play GSV with, be in productions with, even people that are in your elective classes. If you talk to them or are in a group assignment with them, checking up on people is the best thing to do as they become a new friend of yours that you don’t have to sit with at recess or lunch, as long as you see them that’s all that matters, and Sion has been the perfect place to make new friends.

If it wasn’t for being a Drama Representative in Year 7, I don’t think I would have been able to participate in the activities I did last year. Drama is something that I will always enjoy.

Mentors required

I have memories from the Year 7 Family Mass where my Homeroom read a small script and when I tell you I was terrified, I was terrified! But after performing in the CVE or in a College Mass I feel a great sense of achievement, and it helps me to understand that if I can do it once I can do it again. I like working with people older and younger than me, as the older students help me with any tips, and I can give the younger students a bit of an insight to what they are expecting in the years to come.

I’m going to donate the $500 from this award to the ‘Orange Sky Laundry’. This charity supports homeless people all over Australia to stay clean and warm during the week. The charity does this by offering free laundry and showering services. When I looked more into the charity and saw how many Australians don’t get as much warmth and don’t shower as much as we all do it was heartbreaking. I could never imagine how cold we would be without jackets, beds, shoes and socks. I could also never in a million years imagine what it would be like if I wasn’t able to shower. But unfortunately, people all over Australia have to do this every day, week and month of the year.

Past students of Our Lady of Sion College, Box Hill, are invited to share their experiences of further study and career pathways with our Senior students.

If you are interested in taking up this opportunity, to provide support for our students as they navigate their own pathway, including participating in the Mentors Breakfast on Friday 19 May, please contact Mrs Brooke O’Hara, Careers and Pathways Counsellor at bohara@sion.catholic.edu.au or 03 9890 9097.