International Students
When I first migrated to Australia in 2003 with my mother and younger sister, I was afraid because all I knew about the place, was what I had learned in primary school and to be honest I did not remember very much of that!
Going to a new and different country as a young teenager brings about many mixed feelings of fear, hope, anxiety and possible adventures. You wonder to yourself if all the young people will understand you as a person; you wonder if they will want to be your friend, you wonder if you will be able to be as happy and sociable with them as you used to be in your own country.
The night before I had to start my first day of year 10 at Preston Girls Secondary College, I was very homesick and wanted very badly to go back home to South Africa because I thought nothing could ever be as good as my old high school.
In the first 5 minutes of my first day, I realized that all my fears were not real. My first friend was actually a Chinese girl named Susan, and soon after that I made many other friends in the Preston Girls community. Everyday I learned something new about my fellow classmates’ diverse backgrounds, some of which were similar to my own. The supportive nature of the school helped ease me into the learning styles and made me more confident and willing to work harder at my goals and dreams.
Through the school, I managed to do many wonderful things such as debating, public speaking and student leadership roles. Being in Preston Girls made me use my talents to give back to the wider community. So many unforgettable moments and opportunities were given to me and most of my friends to flourish while at the same time learn more.
It has been 3 years since that first day, but now I find myself afraid of my first day at university where I wish I was back in the Preston Girls community. But it is only a small fear because I know that the years I spent there have taught me so many valuable lessons about life, friendship and leadership. My days at Preston Girls were the foundation I needed to build some of my dreams.
Preston Girls is a place for young women to thrive, especially if you are from another country and were maybe afraid of what you would encounter on your journey to Australia. The greatest comfort was in knowing that I was not alone.