On Wednesday 24 June, the Year 12 and 13 students had more than 50 guest speakers speak to them about career paths. Parents, teachers, and Collegians from all walks of life talked about their life at school, tertiary options, and where they have ended up working.

Thank you to those families who took the time to engage with our students.

Eleven years ago, I began my St Paul's Swim Club journey, unaware of how swimming would shape me, create lifelong friendships, and teach me valuable lessons. When I was younger, I hated swimming lessons, often shivering in my togs and whining to my mum, who forced me to attend. I only became interested in competitive swimming because of the people and environment around me. As a competitive person, I loved outswimming and beating all the boys in my learn-to-swim squad, relishing the sport's competitive nature.

As I moved up to Junior B, I met Liam Woods. We raced every length in training to see who was fastest. This competition pushed and developed me as a swimmer. We quickly advanced and started our first swim meet at the 2019 Bill Grey festival. Since then, we haven't looked back.

Swimming is highly competitive and celebrates individual achievements, often leading to hyperfocus on personal performance and failures. Every swimmer can relate to the disheartening emotions from these failures, which can prevent us from seeing our swimming journeys in full perspective. Nitpicking my own failures has been a bad habit, but with support from Graham, Jeremy, Vicki, and the club, I've learned and grown. Graham has often comforted me after disappointing races, teaching me valuable lessons about myself and my racing.

For example, at Opens and Nags this year, I had a challenging two weeks of racing where I didn't hit any goals or times. After an especially average 400 IM, I almost cried poolside. Graham told me to visualize my five-year racing journey as a bucket, with every race, meet, and training session as grains of sand filling it. This perspective helped me minimize disappointment and see how every experience contributes to my goals.

Being part of St Paul's Swim Club has taught me invaluable lessons and fostered profound connections. Whether in the pool, training, or at meets, coming together, working towards a common goal, and supporting each other create a tapestry of shared experiences and mutual growth. Teamwork teaches us to communicate, empathize, and collaborate, fostering a sense of belonging and community.

The St Paul's community has helped me overcome many mental hurdles. Now, most of my swimming memories involve the community and friends, rather than individual races or results. For instance, at Opens 2023, my strongest memory is our girls' 4x200m free relay with Laura, Sophie Perry, Nina, and me. While I don't remember our placing, time, or the race, I vividly recall Nina's incredible 200 free, pulling us through as the anchor and the immense pride I felt for her achievement.

Experiences like this have made St Paul's Swim Club more like a family. The team's morale, strengths, and personalities have motivated and supported me to train and compete healthily. Swim camps bring individuals together, sharing struggles and goals while creating lifelong friendships. Through challenging activities, I have learned the value of cooperation, trust, and shared responsibility. The club environment cultivates strong swimmers and teaches resilience. The encouragement and camaraderie within a team remind us that we are not alone and can overcome adversity together. This shared perseverance builds individual character and strengthens team bonds.

Friendships formed in these settings often extend beyond the activity's duration. The trust and understanding developed through shared experiences create lasting relationships. Many of us recall school sports team friendships that have endured over time. I remain close to all my older friends who have left the club, including Nate, Ollie, Sophie Perry, Dom, Matthew, Sam, and Kaz. These connections testify to the deep bonds that teamwork and shared experiences create, and I know I will hold the same fondness and respect for everyone in my squad and this club forever.

For more information about the Swim Club, click here.