Own Your Story

Wenona challenges and supports students to choose their own path. It is an approach reinforced by our Student Leaders each week in the Principal’s Assembly. They recount personal stories about living with conviction, persevering in the midst of struggle, and finding joy wherever possible ... and urge their peers to do the same. Often funny and wise, their speeches regularly contain insights that serve as a reminder to us all.

2021-2022 School Captain Emily Moulder investigated the role of heroes in our lives and encouraged us to look to find people in our midst whose inspiration can enrich our lives. She quoted her own hero, Ash Barty: “I’ve had my struggles but when I became vulnerable and enjoyed being me, that was the best part. So, for young girls and boys, stay true to yourself and chase your dreams. Then see what happens.”

2022-2023 School Captain Jemima Carmody shared a message about female strength: “We sometimes get pushed into uncomfortable situations, but we don’t have to bend to the will of others. While it is so important to be gracious, it is OK to be upset - to want to change things, to feel passion and anger, to ask for better when treated unjustly. You don’t have to sit down and smile. You don’t have to apologise for existing, for exercising your autonomy. Be honest in what you believe in and confident in voicing it.”

2021-2022 Debating Captain Grace Baric took inspiration from the ‘corrosiveness’ of comparison and inspired us to eschew female competition because: “I’ve learned that when one of us succeeds, the rest of us do too. The spotlight is not beamed on just one of us, but rather we burn bright as stars, creating spotlights for our friends. We all get to share a little bit of each other’s happiness, enthusiasm and triumphs.”

2021-2022 Music Choral Captain Luisa Martin urged us to be kinder to ourselves and focus on controlling the controllable. “To be able to own your story, you must let yourself fail and accept that you can’t control what’s happening around you, but you can control how you respond.”

2022-2023 Prefect Sophie Wright discussed the danger of labels, “This speech is for anyone struggling to escape the constrictions of these prejudices. You are more than what people think you are. I know personally, there is a strange comfort in conforming to others’ prejudices. It’s time to find yourself. I cannot stress enough that you need to do so before your identity is diminished by the misconstrued words of people around you or even your own inner saboteur.”

2022-2023 Prefect Ruby Stammer shared a message about courageously finding your voice. “It is easy for me to stand up here and tell you to speak out for what you believe in, when I myself am not that good at it. The truth is, sometimes it is hard. Sometimes it may feel like people won’t like you because of it. However, I encourage you to speak up. Express what you are passionate about, despite any fear that someone may disagree with you or judge you for your opinion. Challenge your friends and educate your family. We are in a position to instil change, and that starts with the people around us. Use your voice.”

2022-2023 Deputy Head Prefect Kalara Pringgoharjono asked us to consider whether our self-deprecation is really serving us: “We have bought into a culture where self-deprecation is somewhat normalised .... I admit that I too am frequently guilty of comments such as ‘that was stupid of me’ and ‘no, I just got lucky’, whether in humour, frustration or as an uncomfortable response to a compliment. When we say negative things about ourselves, even in so-called humour, they get internalised. It is a constant cycle of self-doubt that can manifest itself as a barrier, inhibiting growth and leaving us stuck in the very habits that we criticise ourselves for.”