Grammar Gazette- Issue 2, 2004

Career E The School has an enviable record for achieving university entrance. Of the 2003 cohort, 9701o accepted places in tertiary institutions with 520fo receiving their first choice and 84Q/o offered their first, second or third choice. This is testament to the girls' commitment to learning, combined with the excellent teaching and relevant tertiary programme advice provided by the School at individual, class and cohort level At Girls Grammar we take a proactive approach to career education providing a guided, structured programme to all Year 10 students The Careers Counsellor, Mr Seaha, aims to fulfill four components in these lessons: preparation for the world of work; exploration of personal interests; decision making for the senior school and discovering possible career pathways for the future. Career education is a lifelong commitment for each and every one of us. As Mr Seaha says, "Effective career assessment, guidance and planning takes time. Students who invest time and sit down with an advisor to discuss and understand their options make better choices. " "Medulla oblongata, non-competitive antagonism in pharmacodynamics and the effects of neurotoxins at the neuromuscular junction - medicine is like learning a new language. Reminiscing over senior Grammar Years, it was tough, but life hasn't changed. life is still tough. Medicine isn't easy. but that factor doesn't accumulate to anything when one is passionate about It. This Year has been nothing but the most profound experience for me. I've been privileged to study medicine, to make new friends from all around the world while at the same time indulging in the experiences of a college lifestyle and Melbourne culture. Looking back at Year 12, the UMAT exam and medical interviews around Australia, mixed emotions of hardship, determination, satisfaction and disappointment are evoked. It's important never to give up on Your dreams 00 matter how long they take to achieve, because when You achieve them You can look back on the journey and just smile. " Shiromi Wimalaguna (2003) ipitturedleftj

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but is only part of the education process, which includes many other avenues for guidance and learning. With so many pathways available and an ever-increasing range of courses and flexible study regimes. students face a challenging task when considering their post-school options In Years 11 and 12 an optional holiday work experience programme provides real life insights for students life-time. The School's newly endorsed Strategic Design recognises this and aims to promote life-long learning and to encourage students to develop the skills that will allow them to deal successfully with transitions in their careers The future focus of career education will be to provide quality tertiary programme advice - assisting girls to chose secondary subjects and tertiary programmes that provide flexibility and, importantly, reflect their personal interests and passion for learning Annually, two career events - The Combined Grammar Schools Careers Evening and the Friends of Girls Grammar Careers Mentoring Breakfast - provide the students of both Research indicates that future generations may experience six career changes in their "The experiences I have had since finishing at Grammar, although invaluable, do not remote Iy resemble what I had envisioned. it had always been my intention to study medicine Inevitably, I spent a sizeable proportion of my last semester at School and summer holidays completing ridiculous amounts of paperwork, the Undergraduate Medical Admissions Test and earning frequent flyer miles through interview attendance. There were a number of daunting decisions concerning university choice and they eventuated in a place at Monash University for the five Year MBBS. Admitted Iy, there 15 still a steep learning curve In terms of balancing commitments and relationships between Brisbane and Melbourne, but the interesting course content, practical

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Combined GrammorSchools CoreerEvening

Schools with the opportunity to hear from and interact with practising professionals from all walks of life. The Careers Evening is held in May of each Year and the Careers Mentoring Breakfast will be held on Wednesday 13 October at Girls Grammar In an extension of the career services provided to our students, the School also offers individual careers counselling to the wider Girls Grammar community. Past students are encouraged to take advantage of these services and particularly Mr Seaha's expertise and knowledge of aTAC and the tertiary sector if considering second degrees, postgraduate studies or a change of course Mr Seaha can be contacted at the School by email on careers@bggs. qld. edu. au or by telephoning (617) 3332/300.

Career advice responds to a need for personal growth and change expressed by an individual, S an exp Ie CG .

Shiromi Wimalaguna and Kirsty Hamilton left Girls Grammar last Year and headed off to Melbourne to study medicine. They returned to the School to share their experiences of first Year university and life after Grammar with some of our current Year 12 girls'

experiences, great social life and cultural diversity are a welcome distraction. For the ne two Years, I aim to enjoy thoroughly the full university and college experience on offer befo clinical placements begin. I wanted to return to Grammar to share my knowledge gained from personal experience with the unique and complex process of tertiary application" irsty Hamil on I O I (pictured righd