A Melbourne Girls Grammar Education is a bold beginning for life. By the time our Grammarians reach Year 12, they have developed the capability to take ownership of their education, and have become active participants in and of the world. We are delighted to share news and updates from some 2024 graduates who are entering the world beyond our red brick walls.
Where Are They Now? Catching Up with the Class of 2024
Where Are They Now? Catching Up with the Class of 2024
The University of Melbourne
2024 School Vice Captain, Sophie Johnson, is preparing to begin a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Melbourne. Sophie was accepted into Ormond College and is excited to expand her independence living, working and studying on campus in Parkville. Sophie said that “MGGS has equipped [her] with the skills to confidently take this leap into tertiary education” by providing an outstanding education “in both knowledge and study skills”. Sophie is well prepared for navigating the challenges of university, and feels that MGGS has given her the problem-solving skills and resilience required to overcome these. In the future she hopes to undertake further study or a career pathway in law or international politics. Sophie also hopes to work part-time and travel around Australia.
Her advice for younger Grammarians is to “choose subjects that you enjoy doing and find interesting.” She thinks that success comes when you are “genuinely interested and curious” about the subjects you’ve chosen.
Medicine at Monash University
High achiever Kaelyn Wang, who will be studying Medicine at Monash University this year, is looking forward to furthering her knowledge in her favourite subject: Chemistry. Speaking at the recent High Achievers Assembly, Kaelyn admitted that while “it is quite a challenging subject…it is also one that is very rewarding.” Through the challenge of learning the enormous amount of content covered in Units 3 and 4 Chemistry, she says she developed very close bonds with her classmates. The class discussions, collaboration and support she felt with her Chemistry peers have become cherished pieces of her education that she will always value.
When asked what advice she has for Year 12 students, Kaelyn reiterated the importance of being organised and completing at least one task for each subject, every day. For Kaelyn, a ‘realistic’ to-do list was the key to staying organised and motivated. Like her peers, Kaelyn suggests choosing subjects you enjoy. “You will find Year 11 and 12 a lot more enjoyable, because you will enjoy the process of learning the knowledge” and develop a love of learning, helping to lower stress and aid motivation to study.
Former Drama Captain Mimi Koczkar is happy to share that she is undertaking a Bachelor of Screenwriting at the Victorian College of the Arts within the University of Melbourne. Mimi has been offered a residential place at Trinity College and has recently moved in there. In 2025, Mimi is looking forward to learning how to “branch out, make creative choices in a specific field and learn a new form of art”. She’s excited to get stuck into filmmaking, working, travelling and meeting new people, and especially attending [Trinity] College and launching herself into a new environment where she can create a new “social bubble” separate to school and home. She believes her time at Melbourne Girls Grammar has enabled her to grow into a resilient person, who is ready to use her initiative, flex her independence and collaborate with others.
Mimi’s advice for Senior Years Grammarians preparing to start VCE is to “work as hard as you can, aim as high as you can” and “don’t listen to people who want to bring you down, you can achieve everything you want. In five years’ time, Mimi hopes to be working with media, writing and creating films!
For former Boarding House Captain and Firsts Netballer, Charlotte Cooney, the sense of community at Melbourne Girls Grammar is something she is really going to miss. Heading to Monash University this year to begin her Law and Global Studies degree, Charlotte will take the lessons she has learned at MGGS with her to her studies and to her new life at Mannix College. Being so involved in the MGGS community has taught Charlotte how to build and develop relationships with peers at different ages.
At the High Achievers Assembly, Charlotte reflected on her time as a keen participant of co-curriculars at MGGS, and knows the skills she has built and character she has developed through her participation in school life will serve her very well in her future. Charlotte is looking forward to making new friends at College and university, and continuing her role as a netball coach at MGGS this year.
Lucy Farrer (2024) knows that she will learn a lot this year as she joins Mimi at Trinity College at the University of Melbourne; mostly about herself as she builds her independence away from home. She says “it’s both daunting and exciting”, but she “can’t wait to have more freedom in [her] study.” Lucy confidently reflects that she would not be in the place she is now without her MGGS education. “The support from teachers and whole staff helped [her] to develop [her] work ethic and empathy,” enabling Lucy to grow to embody the School’s core values every day. Lucy hopes to continue to build on the foundation MGGS has given her and to be involved in as much as possible at university including sport, clubs and drama for example.
Lucy’s advice for VCE students is to “do what you love and you’ll probably end up with higher marks” than if you choose subjects based on what scales the highest. She also says “the very best way to make and solidify your friendships” and feel the “MGGS spirit” is by participating widely in co-curricular opportunities. “Plus,” she says, “having sport or music or debating or whatever it is to look forward to, really takes the edge off the stress of VCE, and can help with the balance everyone talks about!”
Amelia Banks, 2024 School Vice Captain, feels a bit nervous about having so much agency this year, but she is eager to grow to be more self-reliant in regard to her studies and how she tackles her goals. Amelia will be undertaking a Bachelor of Science at the University of Melbourne, and says the curiosity and resourcefulness she developed throughout her MGGS education will enable her to take her learning deeper and explore new ideas. She knows her course will be tough, but that she needs to “allow herself room to fail and therefore grow so [she] can build resilience.” This year, Amelia has set herself many challenges. On top of her degree, she hopes to travel and is “keen on writing a novel”, which she says “may sound ambitious but is something for which [she] has a deep passion.” Amelia highlights the importance of “engaging with the present,” and advises younger Grammarians to not place all their energy on “the next step of the journey.” She says, “it is impossible to figure out what you want to do, become, or achieve if you aren’t making the most of the opportunities in the moment.”
After her undergraduate degree is completed, Amelia hopes to earn a master’s degree in engineering overseas, possibly at Imperial College London, with hopes of kickstarting a career as an aerospace engineer or in the field of renewable energy.
Alice Hockings will be heading to Deakin University to study Sport Science and Business Management, a course which has been very popular among our Grammarians recently! Alice knows that this first year out of School will come with a greater amount of personal responsibility, and she is expecting to learn a lot about the juggle between university study, social, sporting and work commitments.
Alice is a dedicated sportswoman and will continue her involvement in water polo this year. Alice says she developed a strong sense of independence through ILTs (Independent Learning Time, part of the Senior Years Program) during her Senior Years at MGGS, which, she explained, “made her accountable for [her] work, encouraging [her] to take ownership for [her] learning and approach each task with a more proactive mindset.”
A New Adventure
We have also been in touch with Old Grammarian and 2024 Hensley House Captain, Tilly Unsworth, to hear about her Gap Year so far.
Tilly applied to work as a Gap Student at a boarding school in the United Kingdom through the Letz Live program during Year 12 last year. Tilly was placed at Hazlegrove Prep in Somerset where she has been now for a little over six weeks. Tilly never thought she would be the type of person to take a Gap Year, citing the “fear that [she] would never proceed to university or miss out on things [her] peers were doing” as the reason. But after putting in immeasurable hard work to her VCE, Tilly realised that looking forward to a year “off” study and being able to travel, really helped get her through the work, and so the idea settled.
Throughout Year 12, Tilly was motivated by this opportunity to further explore her interests in a real-world context and possibly figure out what might be the right path for her future. Despite the homesickness that comes with being away from family and friends, Tilly knows that everything she’s missing is “waiting for her back in Melbourne”, but that “this year isn’t”. She says she’s “learning and growing” to become a better version of herself and her time at Hazlegrove has already taught her so much, including how to work in a professional environment and get along with those different from herself. Tilly said that without the confidence she gained through participating widely in school life at MGGS, including in sport, leadership, arts and service, she might not have been able to undertake such a big challenge. “The way MGGS pushed me academically, on the sports field, and in the creative arts to be [her] best, to train and study hard, and to think outside the box” has set her up to thrive in an environment so far away from home.
“MGGS nurtured within me a passion to grasp every opportunity.”
Tilly is really looking forward to all the travel she’ll be able to do this year from her base in the UK, but also having the structure and routine of work that being a Gap Student provides. Instead of working any odd job and planning a number of “months of travel”, you are “in a routine, learning new skills, earning money and using the time to its fullest potential.” Tilly reflected that it has also been a great way to meet new people as Letz Live host orientation for all their UK Gap Students, allowing them to connect and build friendships. Tilly is hoping “to learn a bit more about [herself] and possible career paths and interests, so that when [she does] proceed to university, [she doesn’t] waste time in a degree or course that’s not in [her] best interests.”
When asked what advice she has for Senior Years Grammarians, Tilly said this: “Yes, Year 12 is hard and you have to push yourself, but you can still have fun. It’s all about balance… Take the opportunities MGGS gives you, get involved in everything, set your goals, apply yourself and — most importantly — enjoy yourself.”
Tilly has deferred her place at The University of Melbourne for this year. She will return to Melbourne in 2026 and begin her tertiary studies.