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Walter: Mrs Cardone was my Year 5 home class teacher. She noticed that I could learn new materials quickly and well, but that my grades were average at best. She took time to ask me questions and pay attention to how I studied. She realised that I was very disorganised. So she gave me a specific list of organisational skills and tasks that I would have to repeatedly complete - until those skills became habits. She set me up for a long future of successful study habits.

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Kate fryer was my science/maths teacher for quite a few years during my time at highschool. She was someone who often recognised my potential and had a lot of faith in me. Not only did she had exceptional knowledge surrounding content - she also had a great connection with her students making the classroom an engaging and motivating place to learn. She is one of my biggest teaching inspirations

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Throughout my high school journey, many teachers motivated me and supported my learning in every aspect. In particular, my year 12 modern history teacher Ms Cant, and my year 12 chemistry teacher Mr Bird. They were able to capture a child's interest and help them explore that interest. They adapted their teaching to their student's needs and became a not just a teacher in class but also a friend. Their approachable aura allowed students to ask questions outside and inside of class time, I was never afraid to go up to them and ask questions. Over the years I reflect upon my schooling and have found that my interest in science would have not been achieved without the dedication of my teachers who made the subject interesting to learn, their support has made me aspire to become a teacher as well.

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Both Mr McKenzie and Ms Knight were my Year 9/Year 10 English and History teachers. They were passionate about their work, and took time to help me and my classmates fully understand the topics. They made me feel safe and valued, and I aspire to be like them

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Ms Bickley was both my year 9 geography teacher and my year 12 RP teacher. All of my teachers were interested in my learning but specifically, Ms Bickley was so supportive of me and genuinely wanted me to do well in my studies. She was always accessible and we were able to talk about everything happening in my life. She was a relatable friend as well as my teacher.

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My year 12 Italian teacher, Signora Lucia, provided a lot of practical work and talked to her students often in Italian, not just about work or school, but also about life until gradually we were able to understand her. Being able to have regular conversations with her in the language I was learning was very special because it was physical proof of my progress and it felt very rewarding.

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My year 12 Italian teacher, Signora Lucia, provided a lot of practical work and talked to her students often in Italian, not just about work or school, but also about life until gradually we were able to understand her. Being able to have regular conversations with her in the language I was learning was very special because it was physical proof of my progress and it felt very rewarding.

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Lisa was my Reception teacher. When I first started school I needed extra support needs and she was able to provide them perfectly. She recognised what I was capable of and where I needed extra help in and allowed my first year of schooling to be more accessible to me. Over the years its made me realise how important it is for teachers to cater to other students who may need extra help whether academically, socially or mentally.

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My time in school was highlighted by a multitude of great teachers who I enjoyed but the one who stood out the most was Mr Bean. Mr Bean had been an out of school car helper prior to becoming a history teacher at my schools prep school, this resulted in me meeting him before i was his student and also helped create a great connection that really helped in the classroom.

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(That is definitely spelled wrong. Sorry Georgina) I was lucky to have multiple teachers that hugely inspired me, with the very first one being Georgina Sarantaugus. Georgina was my Year Two teacher. Her own passions of reading, writing persuasive stories, coming up with interesting ways in which to teach were so effective that I am still able to remember a lot of what she taught. I believe that this is because of the love that she had for both teaching and her students as individuals.

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I was fortunate enough to have many teachers who were seen by me as blessings throughout my high school life. Ms Selga however, particualry stands out. She consistently showed a perfect balance of kindness and sympathy as well as pushing me to be the best I could be. She was believed in me and was on my side, even during times when I felt I was rapidly loosing motivation. I will never forget how good it felt to know I had a teacher who was consistently proud of me.

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My year 8 to year 12 drama teacher was Colin Davis. He was a middle aged man with a heart made of popping candy. He always had energy, love and passion to give in his classes no matter how tired he was and his acting ability was incredible to witness as he helped us through many difficult practitioner topics including Leban, Stanislavski and Brecht. He taught me for the first time that acting has a method to it and its not just something that happens.

He also was one of the most calm and warm individuals when his students were suffering inside or outside his classroom. He had this change in tone when he was taking something seriously that was so different to his classroom persona. He made you feel heard and safe and like you weren't going crazy with adolescent hormones.

When I got accepted into my university degree for a Bachelor of Music Theatre, the first thing I did was find him and said "Mr Davis, I did it! I made it in!" He was so happy for me that I cried and thanked him for everything he did for me. I will never forget his passionate energy and genuine care for his students. He is the teacher I aspire to be.

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While Miss Karandrikas was my Year 7 teacher, she became my inspiration for becoming a teacher during Year 8. I had a large problem arise in my friend group that concerned the safety of a close friend, who asked that I keep it a secret. I was so scared about what to do that I reached out to the only teacher who I felt had ever really listened to me, gotten to know me, and support me through my educational struggles. This legend of a teacher came in on her day off, with barely a voice as she was sick, and came to my aid. She taught me that a teacher doesn’t stop once the school day is over and that they forget past students once the semester is over - they are forever a trusted person for some students and they leave marks on every pupil they teach. Hers just happened to be particularly big on me.

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Ms Horton was my year 10 and 12 music teacher. She loved music and was always enthusiastic and energetic in class. She always helped us to do our best my encouraging us, giving us helpful, clear, and relevant feedback, and made time for each of us during her lessons. She always made time to check in with us on how we were going and created a safe and inviting space to learn and build relationship with her and other students. She was also knowledgeable and cared about the subject she taught. There was always something new to learn from her. Outside of classes she was always someone you could look forward to seeing and no matter how busy she was she always stopped for a 10 hello and quick catch up with always made my day better.

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Mrs Alta was my literature in my high school. She's the one who inspired and encouraged me to be lifelong bookworm. Thanks to her I read numerous world classical novels, continued writing poetries on my own, and hosted students events and concerts.Even now she is a huge fan of my poetries and encouraging me to write poem in English.

She is the one who gave me belief that teachers' faith in students is not only improve their knowledge but also empower them through out their lifetime. That's why although I have many opportunities to earn more money or career advancement iny life, I end up choosing teaching as the best and brightest.

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Ms Hocking was my Year 10 and 12 Design and Tech/Digital Technologies teacher. She’s a really passionate, motivated teacher, who was able to make the class interested in whatever we were learning that day.

She had a more reserved attitude when it came to teaching, opting to support any ideas that we had along the way and letting it grow from ourselves, but was never afraid to keep me in check when I got a little too unrealistic. I still remember being unsure of whether I wanted to do Digital Technologies back in year 11, and had consulted her for guidance. Rather than pushing me in any one direction, she gave me tips on what I should look out for and plan for in regards to my University courses, and then pick my classes from there. I was really grateful for her help.

Out of the classroom, she was always minding her own business, but she was helping with the Coding Club we had in our school, and anyone could tell that she wanted to share her passion in the field with anyone else who was willing to participate. I hope to be able to have inspired someone to take up work in a field similar to my own, in the same way that she did for me. I think ultimately, that’s the greatest effect teachers can have on their students, to be able to foster passionate and driven young adults.

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My design and technology teacher in year 12 was Toby. Toby was a unique educator; he imparted many important life lessons in addition to academic knowledge. He provided diverse viewpoints on what a teacher may be, which not only encouraged creativity but also participation in his work. Rather than merely assigning worksheets to the class, he cultivated relationships and offered opportunities, making sure that every student received the same degree of attention and that they could complete assignments that held personal significance for them. Toby possessed exceptional yet incredibly grounded qualities that made him respectable to both me and my peers.

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Amy Zhang, my junior high school English teacher, played an important role in my later life decisions. I originally come from China, where most students are stressed about their homework and have little leisure time for extra study or play. To be honest, I was one of them at first, until I met Ms. Zhang. She told me many stories about her master's degree in Australia. I still remember her words: "You should see the world by yourself, not just from a textbook." That's one of the reasons why I decided to study in Australia.

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She was my science teacher in grade 10 and 11, but most importantly, she is also my mom. All the time during my studies, she pushed me so hard that i swore i would never study science again and even though i am not a science student, i am still very much grateful for all the extra assignments and extra hours she spent with me, not as a mother but as a teacher. She never picked me to answer any question in class, she always said that i already know you know the answer and that’s why other kids should get a chance too. She always said that in a classroom every child is like her own. she taught me life is not always sunshine and roses but sometimes storms and thorns too and that’s okay because as long as you believe in something and work hard for it, success will follow. Even now that i have come abroad with a huge time difference back home, she continues to help me with my studies and life. I can only wish to become a remarkable teacher as her someday.

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My Year 11 Lit Teacher: Belinda Pantarotto and my Year 12 Lit Teacher: Kerrie Banks

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My Year 11 Lit Teacher: Belinda Pantarotto and my Year 12 Lit Teacher: Kerrie Banks

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These two lovely ladies are the reason I am sitting in this class today; they have helped me discover my passion for education and realise that is what I want to do for a career.

Both Belinda and Kerrie took the time to get to know their students individually, thus they knew our full capabilities and how their students could maximise their potential. They knew how to make the classroom a comfortable place, they were like a friend - not a teacher. They would admit they didn't like some of the things we were doing, they were brutally honest about our work in a way that pushed me to be a better student, and most importantly they could make the whole classroom bust out with laughter - they were incredibly unhinged - they weren't like any other teacher I've had.

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There were so many teachers I could pick for this, but my most recent example was my Year 11 English Literary Studies teacher. Whenever I think of what it means to be a teacher, I think of him. He’s such a passionate teacher, who always strived to get his students to do the best that they could do. He treated us with respect, and sought not just to teach us but to get to know us. A scenario that I keep close to my heart is when I told him I wanted to be an author. He was immediately supportive and excited at the prospect; he said that when he was younger, he was also big on creative writing and often submitted short stories to literary magazines, and suggested I should do the same. When I decided to write a story for a competition he helped guide me in the planning process. Though I didn’t end up submitting to that competition, the support he showed absolutely helps me stick with my novel-writing journey, if for nothing more than to have his name in the acknowledgements. His dedication to nurturing his students’ ambitions is something I hope to take with me into my teaching career. :D

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Mr Breeding was my drama and art teacher in year 5. He was a lovely teacher who taught his subjects in a very engaging and fun way. His style of teaching, stories and topics were so amazingly put together and memorable that I still remember to this day. He seemed to really enjoy his job, which inspired me to pursue a degree in secondary teaching.

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I met Mr Miell in 2021, Year 11 Math Methods. At the time, I took the extra Math because it was a prerequisite for a different career path I wanted to take. At the time, I didn't know it yet, but he was going to become one of my biggest role models and someone I wanted to be. He was the catalyst that sparked my passion in teaching. And he’d eventually become one of the people in my support system when I entered a rough time.

Mr Miell was the kind of teacher who was passionate, not just about teaching, but the Math he taught. Through his own love for teaching & Math, he made his students enjoy it as well. Math isn’t a subject for everyone and, before him, I wasn’t too keen on it either. However, as weeks passed in his class, I slowly found to enjoy it more and more. Regardless of the difficulty, I felt just as excited as him to learn and apply our knowledge. I noticed whenever you asked him an interesting question, especially if it were something complex, he’d get excited and light up.

I strongly believe that Teaching is one of the most rewarding careers. And, to me, it isn’t just about making sure your students learn content. Teachers are the ones who guide young people to find their passions, it’s what inspires them to learn and want to continue to learn. By finding their passions, they can then build their futures upon it. Educators get given a group of students at the start of each year and get to be a part of their growth and journeys to success.

Mr Miell is especially an important figure that helped me through the hardest times in my life. He was the support and safe place I had when I didn’t have one at home. I struggled with getting stuff done because of home life and, at some point, couldn’t come to school for months on end in my senior year. Despite all this, he worked together with my other teachers and school counsellor to help me pass Year 12 (With the help of Special Provisions). Unfortunately, I didn’t achieve the ATAR I had been working towards since the beginning of high school, but the school and staff volunteered to help me do the STAT test and even paid for it. Without them, I wouldn’t have gotten into University and had the privilege and opportunity to study here in Adelaide.

All my teachers in Year 12 took time out of their breaks to visit me in the library, as that was where I stayed all day when I eventually returned to school. Mr Miell would spend his time teaching me the Math content I was absent for and preparing me for the tests and assignments I had to do. And that wasn’t something he was required to do at all.

When things were rough, even when he knew of the things that were happening, I didn’t feel judged nor treated differently. And, in the beginning of things taking a turn, that was something I deeply feared, but I know now that it’s nothing that I would’ve ever had to worry about.

I want to be the kind of teacher that he is; passionate and a safe support person for my future students. I want to inspire them to find their careers, just like Mr Miell did for me. I want them to be able to ask questions, ask for help and feel safe to confide in me. I aspire to be the person that is safe and a role model to all the children I encounter.

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Mr McKinnon was my year 12 teacher for History as well as my mentor. He played a key role for my development and passion for learning. While he was quite harsh, he always strived to get the best quality of work out of he students. Thjs would come through his meticulous structure of how to properly apporach any chance. Including detailed drafts, plans and self assesment. He showed me what it meant to work hard and acheive the best quality of work. This was evident with the lead into the exam. In particular our one on one conversations about the approach and understanding of content is something I would like to continue. Even with the conclusion of school, he has been an influential presence in my early life and has been a lending ear whenever. I hope to one day strive to have the success and ability that he has had in his teaching carrer

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Robyn was a teacher in my high school who took us for one main lesson a year, from year 8-12. We did Shakespeare in years 8 and 10, biography in year 9, and literature studies on Parzival (year 11) and Crime and Punishment (year 12). Robyn spent 5 years getting to know each student on a really personal level, and because of how well she knew all of the material she was teaching, changing how she taught for each student if they were struggling wasn’t an issue for her. She really pushed us all to do our best and so clearly loved her job. She also directed the senior class play every year, and the play she selected each year was so perfectly chosen for each class, it’s almost as if each part was written for us. She inspired both my love of Shakespeare (as a reader and a performer) and my desire to become a teacher.

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Tires lose tread over time, and so do students. I left my primary school rather dissatisfied with the progress of my learning, and I - somewhat cynically, yes - believed high school would present more of the same. Work not tailored to individual requirements and very little opportunity for progression not through external means. Mr. Saredakis was the first teacher I had that really showed me work can be tailored to the needs of the student, and that camaraderie was the key to promoting the learning progress of students across the board. For once, I felt that I was being treated as a student with autonomy, independence and burgeoning skills - rather than an underling. It taught me that the way to the hearts (and, by extension, the brains) of students is friendliness and mutual respect. I’m glad to have had a teacher like this in the past, and hope to function as a similar presence to my students in the future.

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Mr Andrew was my 9th-grade science teacher and my HL (grades 11-12) biology teacher. During my first year with him in 9th grade, I remember his enthusiasm for teaching encouraged my learning and engagement with the class content. I'm not one to frequently raise my hand in any of my classes, but I remember distinctly feeling comfortable in his class to contribute to class conversations. In my final years of IB, however, I fell into a major slump with my school work, and Mr Andrew was my supervisor for a significant assignment. I will be the first to admit that what I submitted was not the best work I could have produced, but Mr Andrew helped me navigate the assignment and understood my issues. But I think what stood out for me in that period was that even though he showed me compassion for my circumstances, he was also ready to call me out when he knew I could do better. I couldn't have survived my final years of IB without him, and I even dedicated a sizable chunk of my teaching capabilities statement to discuss how much I want to be a teacher like him.

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Ms Li was my Chinese teacher when I was in year 9 and 10, I can still remember her being short but very strict, especially when it came to managing students' studies. I was deeply impressed by her because she gave me a lot of help when I was in Year 9 and Year 10, not only academically but also psychologically. I used to be emotionally unstable because of my family, and I didn’t like talking to people. At that time, she often talked to me alone and asked me if I felt better recently. One of my most memorable conversations was when she asked me what my dream was, the first time I told someone about my dream. Then she encouraged me and said that I would definitely achieve it. I think many teachers treat students this way, but she is the best teacher I have ever encountered when I was at the most confused and helpless time in my life.

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Bu Kylie was my Indonesian teacher from Year 8-Year 12, what was special about her was that she would care deeply about every single student in her classes, on a personal level as well on a school one. In the final weeks of year 12 when motivation was at an all time low, she would be the one to push me and my classmates over the edge and to imagine how good it'll feel once the exams are complete. After i graduated she continued to be an inspiration to me and even provided me with an opportunity to travel overseas and live out my life long dreams.

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She was my English teacher when I was in junior high school. Because my English teacher in primary school was very strict, I always resisted learning English. Until when I was in junior high school, my English teacher influenced me. She is a young teacher who has just graduated, so she is not very well regarded, but she has made everyone look at her with her efforts. She is not so strict as other teachers, she is more like my friend, when we make progress in our grades to buy small gifts to reward us. She is very good at encouraging students, which adds a lot of confidence in my future study, and I am very grateful to her.

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She was my Chinese second language teacher in year 11. Everyone studied Chinese first language so she had to help me go through my modules individually. She spent a lot of time and effort on me and gave me a lot of practice tests. When I didn’t have faith, she always encourages me to never give up. I’m grateful for her patience in teaching me and I hope to become someone like her.

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They were both my year 8 English teachers, Ms Daniel’s had helped me go further and beyond in my studies despite it being only year 8. Years later when I had gotten put in the lower English class despite not needing to be into it Mr G understood where I was coming from and tried to help me get out of that class and into the right one, despite his efforts being unsuccessful I was always grateful that someone was by my side and willing to help

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Mr Place was and still is a relatable and honest person who strived to get the best out of his students, no matter the circumstances. He is someone who worked on building positive and trustworthy relationships with students. This lead to help the students achieve the highest academic results possible within themselves. Mr Place is someone who always lent an ear to listen, he was a voice of reasoning and he is someone that I looked up too. A teacher, a friend, a mentor and someone who had a big play in making me the man I am today.

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In the 4th grade, Ms. Ewing was my homeroom teacher on top of being my math teacher. A handful of students in my year barely scraped through the 3rd grade and were real troublemakers. Unlike the other teachers, however, Ms. Ewing did not dismiss or disregard these kids and gave them extra attention to ensure they felt a part of everything and didn't fall behind further. This one kid, Ryan, was suddenly getting As on every math test - a far cry from the year earlier. I can vividly remember looking over to see him fast asleep in the middle of a big math test, later bragging he had circled in option B for every multiple choice question. Ms. Ewing definitely inspired everyone to do as well as they could. Also, despite being a 4th grade teacher, she would volunteer to play the piano for the kindergarten play, the 1st grade play, the 2nd grade play and so on... every single year. She would speak to all her students on equal terms, and without lowering herself. Kind, compassionate, warm and graceful, Ms. Ewing is a gem of a person and someone who seems born to be a teacher.

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Mr Tilley was my music teacher in years 9, 11 and 12 during high school. I always looked forward to his classes as he made them enjoyable and engaged well with his students. He was always encouraging and provided feedback to me whenever I needed it. His teaching along with my private piano teacher Mrs Paterson helped me decide on music teaching as a career path.

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Mr Turland was my Integrated Studies teacher however most importantly, he was my mentor throughout my leadership journey in senior school. He always looked for opportunities to support me develop my leadership skills. Especially, when I ran for a Prefect position and did not get through one of the interviews, he saw how heartbroken I was not to achieve one of my childhood dreams. Right after breaking the bad news to me, he urged me to find a gap in the school’s leadership diagram which then he created a position to further develop and improve my leadership. He was one of the teachers at the school who inspired me to keep teaching as my main career path, always wanted the best for me and became a role model to me. He was someone who was extremely passionate about his role at the school and I am forever grateful for the opportunities he gave me.

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I had him as my teacher for three subjects over both year 11 & 12 English, history and legal studies. He would go on to become one of my all time favourite teachers and inspire me to take on teaching. He had a unique perspective on how he would teach and would always keep classes fun and engaging. He was also a keenly considerate teacher wanting the best for his students but understanding the impacts of stress and other complications.

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Madame Daju was my middle school French teacher (years 7 to 10). She was one of the only teachers I had, that put in effort to help me with my language skills. In her teaching, she used so many different methods for me (and my class) in learning French, like games which helped me to keep up motivation in the subject compared to other subjects. Her persistence in only speaking French in the classroom proved to be really useful as it helped me to have a better understanding of the language.

She believed in me and my skills and helped me to do year 12 French in year 11, without her, I may not even be able to speak French to the level I can now.

The way Madame Daju helped me to strive at French, really has inspired me to be that person for someone else.

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Mr Barrett was my english teacher for year 8 and 9, as well as my mentor group teacher for all of highschool. He always made sure to talk to every single person in his classes, and to make sure that they were doing well in all facets of their lives, not just school. I think that the main reason that I have any interest in teaching and becoming a teacher is that I want to give students a similar experience to what I had with Mr Barrett, one of empathy, patience and just feeling as though there is someone at school who genuinely cares about their development.

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I have been very fortunate to have gone to a school whose teaching staff were incredible. They were passionate, funny, engaging, relatable, encouraging, endearing, intelligent, inspiring, and invested in our journey through schooling and into the outside world. There are literally a slew of people I could write this note about, but one does stand above the rest.

The teacher in question never taught me a specific class, except for the occasional substitute scenario. However, for the past almost 20 years, dozens of students and other faculty from my school have told me about how he is their favourite. Even though they might have been out of school for quite some time, they still want to talk to me (or him) and reminisce about the positive impact he had on their lives, often thanking him for putting them in a position to succeed in both their careers and personal life. They have described him in all the aforementioned words, and many more:

Standing up for them in the workplace; helping them through their first years; taking up leading extra-curricula activities; or just generally being someone to ask for advice, or direction. His ability for support apparently knows no bound's.

I have benefitted from over 30 years of learning with him, so I should not have been surprised when other people began telling me about their experiences. He has helped teach me almost everything from reading to responsibility, always patient, helpful, and full of joy.

He is the type of teacher that I can only aspire to emulate, and if I have only a fraction of the capability he does, then I will have done alright. I know I would not be on this path without him.

So thanks for everything, Dad.

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Miss Keatch was my Year 11 and 12 Biology teacher. She was the first teacher I had that taught us about different learning styles and study techniques. She was very passionate about her work and made every class different and exciting, inspiring her entire class to learn. When I struggled to understand a concept, she took the time to explain it a different way and suggest new ways to review the content. Miss Keatch encouraged my love of learning and inspired me to pursue teaching.

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Shannen was my year 11 and 12 psychology teacher. Even though it was only her first year teaching she made a real effort to get to know her students and their individual learning style, tailoring her lessons towards this. She also created an environment that made me feel comfortable and safe within the classroom, and encouraged discussion. Her style of teaching was down to earth and will always inspire me.

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Throughout the latter half of my high school experience, I came across many science teachers who impacted me greatly to the point of wanting to do what they had done for me. The relationships they established with me made me feel like when I was asking for help from one of them, it also felt like I was asking a friend. They made me enjoy the subjects they taught and opened my eyes to just how interesting the world around us is. And that's what I want to do for other people.

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Ms Calaby was my year 12 geography teacher. Having a good relationship with my teacher is really important for me to feel motivated in the class and she really worked on her relationship with the class. I also loved how passionate about geography and allowed us to find our own passions within the subject too.

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A WONDERFUL Outdoor Ed teacher that encouraged me to be adventurous, say YES to things that made me uncomfortable (in a good way), and to give everything a go. When I was picking a career path, she encouraged me to travel, and see the world. She encapsulates passion, and has inspired me to become a teacher.

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Scott Parker always cared about everyone wellbeing and was generally interested in mine and others future.

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A significant teacher that stands out to me since leaving school and getting older would be my high school deputy principal and outdoor ed teacher, Mr Price.

Mr Price was a teacher a lot of kids looked up to and you were lucky to have him as a teacher. In my perspective what made him special was the way in which he interacted with his students and the school community.

He was extremely loud and funny but knew the right level of friendship and professionalism. He was a teacher that felt like a friend, role model and father figure. I believe he had a big impact on the community of the school as he was someone that you weren't necessarily scared of getting in trouble with, but more you didn’t want to him to be disappointed in you. I think he showed me what kind of teacher I want to be, and the relationship I would want with my students. Someone they can look up to, be comfortable with, and have fun with but then again know the boundaries and listen to.

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The teacher who was special to me throughout my schooling was my year 12 ancient history teacher Mr Carter. His approach and passion for the subject allowed me to enjoy the class and spiked my interest in a subject I didn’t know I enjoyed. He was always engaging with the class moving around and maintaining everyone's attention. He loved what he was teaching which became contagious in a way. He spoke with a well-paced and loud voice, which helped me and many others in the classroom. Above all though he had that drive to connect with the class through humour and enjoyment. I feel as though that is an undervalued aspect of teaching. Having the ability to keep a classroom entertained by your persona ultimately leads to attention being placed on the content you’re speaking about.

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Mrs Bentley was a very special teacher to me and although she only came to my school when I was in year 12 she made a massive impact on me. She helped me in a way that I could go to her if I needed help in any subject and she would always assist me in those problems and give me tools to fix what I was struggling with. She was also very important to me in the bond that we made as I felt extremely comfortable with her and could talk to her about anything that I was struggling with at home or at school.

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I had Mr Burns in some form or another from year 8 - 11. In year 8 he was my care group teacher and years 9 & 10 Maths then Year 11 Physics.

I don’t think a lot of my fellow students would describe him as inspirational but I liked him because he challenged me. I was always a lazy student that coasted by in Maths; he could have either given me a hard time or just ignored me but instead he showed me why putting the effort in was important. He taught me that the process matters not just the end result and this lesson has been the most valuable to me throughout my career and I think about him often.

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She was my critical thinking teacher in UoAC. She was a very calm and friendly person, answered all my questions and made me interesting about how people view the situation in different aspects.

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Helen was the name of one of my Primary School teachers. She was the leader of the Chess Club, and is an important memory for me. She was easy to get along with, and expressed her pride in my chess playing. I liked her so much, I wanted to change into her class as I felt very comfortable around her.

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Daniel Rabbett was my year 10 home room teacher. He was abled to connect with his students on a personal level and really went out of his way to make sure that his students succeed.

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My stage 1 math method teacher, Eric Guo. He help me a lot throughout year 11, give me useful feedback on assignments that helps me to be successful.

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I studied Year 12 History during the covid pandemic. In a year with so much misery, class with her could easily have devolved with everyone disengaged. However she had so much passion and love for history it was infectious. She made us see history in everything. When students would mention the pandemic she would smile and say: "History is happening right now in front of you! Isn't it fantastic!" I strive for her optimism and to be half as inspirational.

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My creative arts teacher in 12th grade, Miss V, had a profound impact on me. While she was strict and gave blunt feedback, her high expectations pushed me to achieve my creative goals. Her passion for the arts and genuine interest in seeing me succeed balanced her criticism and made me want to work hard to meet her high standards and get incredible grades. Without her, I could not imagine succeeding and getting quite the ATAR I wanted to achieve.

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Mr Doherty was my drama teacher from years 8 to 12, whilst also being my tutor teacher from 9 to 12. Within the tutor times, the school gave us activities to do about wellbeing which would always bore all the students to death and felt like a chore. However, when Mr Doherty walked into our tutor room, he would get us all to sit in a circle and discuss a current issue that we see in our society, whether this is in the school community or our world. Although my tutor was very diverse (athletes, bookworms, performers and academics), we found ourselves all discussing the topic from our point of view and debating our thoughts. These were some of the most enjoyable conversations I would have within school as they all felt so real and raw. All the judgement of our backgrounds or what friendship groups we came from vanished. And of course he would encourage us to do active games together that furthered our connections as a group. He treated us like real people and not lesser than him, He truly made a difference in my life.

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Ms Simpson was my year 11 English Lit teacher. All her of classes were incredibly organised, and her teaching style was very efficient. At the same time, she was incredibly empathetic, and all of the students were respected and treated as equals while also being held to a high standard. Additionally I had extraneous difficult circumstances happening in my life at the time, and she spent extra effort ensuring I found counselling and academic support. She demonstrated to me that a teacher could be organised, efficient and practical without losing any of their humanity and empathy, which sounds obvious, but I had never encountered such a clear example of these principles in action.

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Mr Burrows was my year 12 economics teacher, but he taught me so much more then economics. He wasn’t sacred to tell the truth and talk about real life stuff. He mixed life lessons and values within economics and wouldn’t back down when we reached touchy subjects like equality and equity, we dove into a bit of philosophy and it has forever changed my perspective on my life. The wisdom he carries will forever inspire me and I want to me like that for someone in the future.

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Mr Lewis was my music teacher for 8 years. He was enthusiastic about music and was engaging and interesting. He encouraged me to persevere with music, even when I wasn't doing very well in music. That perseverance has helped me learn to love music and never give up.

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Mrs Koefer would stay up to until midnight every time an assignment was due; sending drafts back and forth. Even if you only showed up one day a term she would use the time you gave her to try and get the best results out of you. She was really considerate and kind but she still pushed you to do your best.

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Mr Earle was my math methods teacher in year 12. he was great at finding different explanations for any topic to help people that were struggling. Also had a very welcoming environment in his classroom.

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Elliot taught me throughout YR11 and 12 in two of my favourite subjects — English and History. My passion for those subjects has been everlasting, however Elliot and the empathy, patience and passion he taught with allowed me to explore that in an academic way that didn’t allow me to lose any love for the subjects. His classes were somewhere I genuinely enjoyed to be, and encouraged me to make the effort to go to school even when I was feeling my worst. They not only served as a space in which I was always comfortable, but somewhere I could still achieve academic success and get criticism on my work that served to better me and my assignments.

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Mr Norris was my Year 5 class teacher who significantly shaped me into the person I am today. The end of primary school was a pivotal moment as I was a couple years away from High School. Although unrelated to my academics and school performance, Mr Norris had put me on a path of classic rock music (60s-90s) which had tied in with my love for modern history at the time. Although trivial, I am forever grateful that he had helped me discover my love for music, which only further drove my passion for modern history and the relation between music and major events in the 20th century (1960s protest movements).

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I was in Mr. Ruthven's first ever class in Year 8 Spanish, although I was a brat he still treated me and the others with respect. In Year 10 I had him again in English, we maintained a close relationship through film, and to this day we still communicate with each other on our thoughts on the latest hits. To me his ability to have a personal connection with me and other students was inspiring and he actively made me more interested in the boring parts of English (poetry, creative text) through our personal discussion of film.

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I dunno about something nice, but she was definitely the best teacher in school, only second to Ms. Dansie (The history teacher). Ms. Christello was our maths teacher and probably the only teacher who actually tried to teach on it's fundamental levels rather than recite the book. She was the first person who made me understand linear relations (that was in year 11. I only survived year 12 with good grades cuz I self studied lol). But yeah, she was my favorite teacher and I want to be like her minus the part where she gets angry in seconds and be sexist but thats a story for another time.

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Mr. Tuan was my year 11 and 12 chemistry teacher. I was so impressed with his background at the beginning of the year, a Ph.D. in Teaching, and even a Master's in music because most teachers in high schools in my country have a Bachelor's or a Master's only. His teaching method is wonderful and effective, which allows students to understand it in just a few minutes.

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Kyran was a teacher I had from year 10 to 12. I was in a music group at school that he supervised, and he really fostered and encouraged my passion for music. He helped me learn new skills in music making software and helped our school band out when we would perform. At our school subjects would be combined into one class so teachers would sometimes be teaching outside their expertise. Despite this, Kyran would help me and others with year 11 maths and other subjects he didn’t particularly specialise in and still did a great job at getting us engaged and talking with one another.