My name is Katie and in 2024 I will be graduating from All Saints College. I have been attending All Saints since Kindergarten, and throughout my time at the school, I have learnt many new capabilities, skills and developed interests in a variety of activities.

I think that leadership and communication are important capabilities that I have been able to extend on and develop. Interacting with others is a big part of the All Saints community and having sufficient leadership and communication skills are critical to many aspects of life, in and out of the college. Group work, team sports and many other activities all require these capabilities, and they overlap with many of the out of school activities that I partake in, such as basketball and coaching. To be a good leader means that you also have to be a good listener, and it is not always about being the loudest person in the room. When I first started coaching, I had to quickly adapt and develop my leadership skills. I learnt that sometimes less is more, and talking less actually worked better for my team, and allowed them to tune in and learn more.

Three of my role models are Jacinda Ardern, Jodee Sontay and Sami Whitcomb. These people all have strong values and are dedicated people who treat others with kindness and respect. They are active participants in our community, and they are empathetic and considerate of others. Most importantly, they put being a good person in front of their job/sport. Having strong values and a strong sense of self are two qualities that are important, and that I think these people have them. Some of the activities I participate in like coaching and basketball are inspired by these role models, as they have taught me to be a part of my community and to try my hardest in everything I do.

Basketball is a big part of my life and it is a sport that I enjoy playing and that has taught me many life lessons, and introduced me to many friends. I started playing basketball for the All Saints Basketball club in 2014, and I currently play for the Cockburn cougars. I have made so many friends through basketball and met amazing coaches and people, who motivate me to be better every single day. Basketball ahs helped me develop confidence and leadership, two qualities that I can carry to other parts of my life. Basketball requires a lot of hard work and dedication, and at times it is definitely not easy. Resilience has also been a quality that I’ve had to develop in order to succeed in basketball. I coach two under 12 basketball teams currently, an All Saints’ team and a lightning hoops team. These teams have actually further nurtured my relationship with basketball, as they encourage me to be my best self so that I can be a role model for my teams. I first started coaching a lightning hoops team in 2019 and this season I took on my first All Saints team. Coaching has helped me foster positive relationships with people in my community and taught me many skills.

Service is an enormous part of learning at the college and my family and I love partaking in the opportunities that the college provides. Cooking for the homeless and delivering hampers for the needy are services that my family loves to participate in, as it reminds us to never take things for granted. GenConnect is another service opportunity that I loved participating in. GenConnect is a wonderful opportunity that allows students to work with older generations to assist them and answer any questions they have about technology. It is a wonderful program that has taught me many things and through it I have made many connections with Amana residents and other students.

I am grateful for the opportunities that the college has already provided me with, as well as the skills and learning that has developed from these opportunities.