Grammar Gazette- Issue 1, 2023

FROM THE STUDENTS Football

When I began my secondary school journey in Year 7 at Brisbane Girls Grammar School, one of the most important parts for me was finding my interests and hobbies—what many teachers referred to as ‘your thing’. I remember being more concerned about ‘choosing the right thing’ than about other, more important needs, such as how to manage my new subjects or classes. Although I tried many different activities during my early years at BGGS including cricket, orchestra, rhythmic and artistic gymnastics, I have returned to football every season. When the 2023 season commenced, I began reflecting on why it was that this sport had stuck with me throughout my schooling at BGGS? Initially, I decided to try football since it was already a prominent part of my life, despite not having much experience. My family was always interested in watching the sport growing up: my grandfather had played football on the hallowed turf of the ‘Gabba’ in 1956; my brother played for a club that my dad coached in primary school, and I would constantly be dragged along to his training sessions. Whist I was watching my brother play and my father coach I would kick a soccer ball around but this was the extent of my exposure to the sport at that time. ‘The beautiful game’ at BGGS HOW FOOTB A LL H A S ENRICHED MY GIRLS GR A MM A R YE A RS Aleena Mohammed (11B)

1

I can still recall my first few bus rides to the Rangakarra sporting campus in Fig Tree Pocket after joining the BGGS team in Year 7. This was where I made some of my first friends at Girls Grammar who are still my closest friends today. After my first season playing for the Junior B team (and being undefeated!), I decided that this was enough incentive to continue for the next few seasons. Although my friends and I sometimes questioned whether we would trial again, we always decided to return to maintain our friendships with each other and enjoy the camaraderie of a team sport environment. The same group of friends from the start of my high school journey still participate in the sport today, along with many others that I’ve convinced to join along the way! It has been pleasing to see more and more students trialling for football teams at BGGS each season, with numbers doubling in the last 17 years! There has also been an increase in interest in the sport outside of School. The European Football Championships in 2021 (they were still known as ‘Euro 2020’ then, but that’s another story!) generated further interest and discussion, especially during the pandemic when society relied on entertainment whilst we were confined to our homes. The recent 2022 World Cup in Qatar not only brought millions together to watch the game, but also highlighted many satisfying benefits outside of the sport. As a Muslim living in Australia, it was encouraging to see fans from different countries and cultures learning about my religion which is the dominant religion in Qatar. It was wonderful to see connections being made between people at a sporting event that is now referred to by some as ‘The best World Cup of all time’. I’ve decided to make a conscious effort to continue with football until the end of my schooling at Girls Grammar. It has been an activity that I’ve proudly participated in since the beginning, and while I’ll never have the speed of Kylian Mbappe, be able to volley like Sam Kerr, or be able to curl a free kick like Lionel Messi, playing football at BGGS has grown my love for ‘the beautiful game’, as I hope it will for many current and future students.

CAPTIONS 1 ALEENA MOHAMMED (11B) 2 CHARLOTTE COOKE (11E) ON BALL WITH ALEENA ON RIGHT

2

14

GAZETTE • ISSUE 1, 2023 ISSUE 1, 2023

BRISBANE GIRLS GRAMMAR SCHOOL