9 minute read
Scholar Profiles
HIGH ACHIEVERS – PROFILES
ANASTASIA GIKAS
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WHAT ARE YOU PLANNING TO DO IN 2022?
Bachelor of Science/Doctor of Medicine at the University of Sydney.
HOW DID SANTA SABINA HELP YOU ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS?
I feel very blessed to have received countless academic and extracurricular opportunities. My teachers were incredibly supportive, always pushing me to reach my goals and reminding me that I can achieve anything I set my mind to. They never turned me away from the staff room even with my millions of questions! The nurturing environment at Santa enabled me to realise my passion for science and solidify some of my career goals in the years to come – our school's focus on community and helping others inspired and furthered my interest in a healthrelated career.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THE CLASS OF 2022?
Do not hesitate to ask for help! Year 12 is full of challenges and hurdles, and I know I could not have excelled without my amazing support network of friends, family and teachers.
BEST MOMENT/S AT SANTA?
I've created so many beautiful memories with my friends, and I am especially grateful for the fun times we had in class. Being part of a small IB cohort brought us all very close, and I will cherish the friendships forever. Dressing up as characters we studied in English was a perfect way to end our journey, despite this happening during lockdown. Finally graduating in person after being online for so long in Year 12 was also a great highlight for me.
SOPHIA JUAREZ
WHAT ARE YOU PLANNING TO DO IN 2022?
Arts/Law at the University of Sydney (Arts majors: Spanish and Philosophy).
HOW DID SANTA SABINA HELP YOU ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS?
The genuine support of my teachers, peers and family inspired me to set big goals, work collaboratively toward them and nurture a real love for my subjects. I feel so grateful to have been surrounded by mentors who were so generous with their time and always willing to listen to my questions and ideas. The collaborative peer culture at Santa where we help and motivate each other every step of the way has made my senior experiences so much fun and meaningful. Santa has never failed to offer me opportunities to extend myself, immersed in the rich co-curricular life through pursuing my interests in music, the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award and debating. Leadership opportunities have also been a very special part of my time at Santa.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THE CLASS OF 2022?
Choose subjects you genuinely love, take every opportunity for feedback, collaborate and support your peers, ask for help when you need it, pray, reflect on your progress. Your small actions and habits are often those with the greatest results, being consistent with homework and study, your sleep routine, having positive digital habits, bringing joy into your life by keeping up activities you love! And most importantly, truly believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities and give your best effort with the confidence you’ll benefit from the effort you put in no matter the tangible results – don’t just measure your progress through the marks.
BEST MOMENT/S AT SANTA?
So many to choose from! The 2019 European music tour was one of the best experiences of my life and my Year 12 leadership experiences are also so special to me. Ultimately, I think simple lunchtimes with friends, orchestra rehearsals and classes with my peers and teachers will be some of my most lasting memories.
RACHEL FRECKER
ATAR 99.75
NAOMI GHOSEN
ATAR 99.75
WHAT ARE YOU PLANNING TO DO IN 2022?
Arts/Law at the University of Sydney or the University of NSW.
HOW DID SANTA SABINA HELP YOU ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS?
I feel very fortunate for the many opportunities provided by Santa Sabina, helping me to challenge myself, pursue diverse interests and develop holistically. I always felt that Santa offered a creative and inspiring environment for me to try new things, make mistakes and learn from them along the way, and most importantly, to connect with my peers. I have been especially grateful for the tireless support of our passionate, dedicated teachers, who were always willing to provide extra feedback or clarify my understanding. I am equally grateful for the encouragement and motivation provided by my peers, with our opportunities for collaboration forming some of my most memorable learning experiences at Santa.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THE CLASS OF 2022?
Focus on working towards your personal best whilst making sure to take time to recharge and relax. Truly enjoy the moments that aren’t related to school or study as they are just as important, particularly with all of the milestone occasions that occur in Year 12! Seek
WHAT ARE YOU PLANNING TO DO IN 2022?
Bachelor of Applied Science in Speech Pathology at the University of Sydney.
HOW DID SANTA SABINA HELP YOU ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS?
There was never a shortage of support from my peers and teachers. In particular, my IB teachers ensured that we worked in a cooperative and comfortable environment where we could feel confident to ask questions and expand our knowledge. The school also provided me with countless opportunities to delve into a specific interest such as participating in the Ethics Olympiad, science and engineering challenges, volunteering at Mary Bailey House, and so much more. These helped me determine what I was really interested in and what my future career could look like. Being a House Captain also allowed me to challenge myself and gain confidence especially in my communication. These skills are invaluable and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to develop them. and embrace teacher feedback wherever possible, and don’t underestimate the benefits of working collaboratively with your peers. A consistent study routine can help keep you on track whilst preparing for assessments or exams, as well as ensuring you fit in downtime as well. Most importantly, be proud of yourself and celebrate every achievement or bit of progress along the way!
BEST MOMENT/S AT SANTA?
I was very fortunate to enjoy both moments that connected me to my peers and to our College community, as well as a rich variety of learning opportunities that challenged me to grow. Some of my best moments are those where the strength and warmth of the community was exemplified, such as through our sporting carnivals or celebrations of Dom’s Day. Other highlights have been learning experiences where I was challenged to develop new skills and worked closely with a team, such as the Ethics Olympiad, Science and Engineering Challenge, or the da Vinci Decathlon. Another core highlight was undertaking the IB and forming an incredibly close bond with our small cohort. Working collaboratively and sharing the highs and lows, I was able to thrive in a supportive and encouraging environment and am so grateful to have made some lifelong friends.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THE CLASS OF 2022?
Take advantage of every opportunity presented to them. We are so blessed at Santa to have the ability to participate in such a wide range of experiences; you may not know you have a passion for something until you really try it out. Prioritise creating a balance in your life between work, friends, and other commitments. When too much of your life is overcome with one aspect over another, it becomes so much more stressful. Stress is a fact of life but it should never become a way of life.
BEST MOMENT/S AT SANTA?
My best moments at Santa have been defined by the connections I have formed with others. Having the opportunity to go to NASA and the St Lucy’s Camp has allowed me to collaborate and work with people I otherwise would never have met. But, the smaller scale connections created between my peers, teachers and me made my Year 12 experience so incredible.
PIA CURRAN ATAR 99.70
WHAT ARE YOU PLANNING TO DO IN 2022?
Arts/Law at the University of Sydney.
HOW DID SANTA SABINA HELP YOU ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS?
Santa Sabina has been a really supportive learning environment ever since Year 7. There’s no way I could have achieved these marks without the constant support of all my teachers. And I don’t mean just the academic support. They were helpful and compassionate with other things like dealing with perfectionism and general life advice. You can tell it’s more than just the job of teaching, they really care about the students.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THE CLASS OF 2022?
If you do subjects that you like and you are passionate about, doing the work will not be a chore. You should be able to enjoy it as much as possible. Do not worry about scaling or what you think you are going to do well in – just do what you genuinely like and you will maximise all your chances.
BEST MOMENT/S AT SANTA?
It is so hard to pinpoint just one. Graduation was really fun especially with all the sunflowers. I really liked time spent in the classroom – the classes, the environment, learning, asking questions and having class discussions – just everything really!
CLARISSA KALAMVOKIS
ATAR 99.10
WHAT ARE YOU PLANNING TO DO IN 2022?
I’m planning on continuing my studies at uni, I’m not set on a course yet, but probably a combined Bachelor of Commerce.
HOW DID SANTA SABINA HELP YOU ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS?
Since Year 7, Santa has provided me with an abundance of opportunities to further my learning as well as maintain balance through co-curricular activities like sport and Duke of Ed. These opportunities allowed me to collaborate with others to challenge and enrich myself. Further, I am so grateful for the teachers that were there every step of the way through the last two years, allowing me to strive for my goals even through difficult and unprecedented times.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THE CLASS OF 2022?
Take care of yourself first, make sure you continue doing the things you love, and remind yourself of your goals if you become lost along the way!
BEST MOMENT/S AT SANTA?
The memories I will cherish forever from Santa include the co-curricular sporting activities, the NASA Space Camp I had the privilege of attending and the final year milestones we were able to celebrate as a cohort. The sense of community – whether it's through the friendships I’ve made, house activities or just the classroom environment – is definitely something I’ll miss from my time at Santa.
LOREDANA LEONARD
Year 11 Accelerant 2nd in NSW for Italian Continuers
WHAT ARE YOU PLANNING TO DO IN 2022?
Year 12 at Santa Sabina with the following HSC subjects: English Advanced, Mathematics Ext 1, Biology, Chemistry, Studies of Religion 1
HOW DID SANTA SABINA HELP YOU ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS?
I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to be an accelerant student at Santa. My teachers have been absolutely incredible and without their support and genuine care of my improvement and growth in all of my subjects, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I will really miss studying Italian this year but I am so grateful that I will always have this skill in the future. I am really excited to continue with the subjects I love in the upcoming year and to graduate with the fabulous class of 2022.
