Youth Focus - Tori Casey
Youth Focus is a new initiative undertaken by Girl.com.au and is designed to provide motivational and enlivening stories about today's youth.
First cab off the rank is Wesley College Student Tori Casey.
Saying good bye to the old school yard…
CEO of a school for a year…
Everyone appreciates how hard the final year at school can be…add to that being responsible for representing 1500 students! Tori Casey is nearing the end of her term as Wesley College Prahran's Head Prefect and she's got some tips for you!
I'm not doing VCE…
Instead of studying VCE, in year 11 Tori started the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. Tori identified the community service aspect of her IB as not only an inspiration, but also a grounding experience. "Time spent with the Sacred Heart Mission Soup Kitchen, and working with underprivileged kids at the Cottage By The Sea in Queenscliff, were both opportunities to open my eyes to the harsher side of life that school sometimes protects you from".
"It was experiences like this that were true reality checks - helping me to see the bigger picture, put life into perspective, and also made me realise how important my friends are," Tori revealed.
Careering in control…
Tori found that by year 12 she "started thinking about a career path - it helped having an inspirational chemistry teacher as well as media attention about stem cell and genetic research to spark a passion in bio-medics! Hopefully I will be the first scientist in my family!"
But what about some fun stuff…
As for 2003, after such an intense year Tori is taking a well-deserved break. "I plan some time off for self exploration and expanding my horizons. I have applied to work, and travel, in South Africa, as well as Camp America - it's important to experience life too," Tori explained.
Tori's Year 12 Survival Tips
Tori recommends a few strategies for coping with year 12 pressures:
Be organised so you don't fall behind in studies
Do try and find a balance - it is important to have time off study - play a sport and enjoy a social life
Do ask your teachers questions - they are your best resource
Do lots of practice exams - they will help you get used to exam styles
Don't neglect your easy subjects and put all your efforts into the hard ones
Don't neglect your friends - they can be your greatest support network
Don't get in a rut - see an inspirational speaker, take up belly dancing, work with underprivileged kids, be involved in the school musical - keep life in perspective!
For more information on:
International Baccalaureate visit http://www.wesleycollege.net OR http://www.ibo.org
Sacred Heart Mission Soup Kitchen visit http://www.sacredheartmission.org
Cottage By The Sea in Queenscliff visit http://www.infoxchange.net.au/misc/cottage_by_the_sea
Camp America visit http://www.campamerica.com.au
Wesley College visit http://www.wesleycollege.net
If you'd like to nominate an inspiring young person who is achieving things in your community (at school, in sport, in the arts etc…), then email michelle@girl.com.au
