Amity Dry was warmly welcomed by our Senior Years students as she visited Kildare College to share her inspiring story.
Earlier this year, our Kildare College Student Leadership Team had the opportunity to attend a sold-out International Women’s Day event, hosted by the City of Tea Tree Gully. It was at this event that they had the privilege of connecting with Amity, a talented singer, songwriter, and businesswoman based in Adelaide.
The Student Leadership Team was so deeply moved by Amity’s words that they were eager to ensure that all Senior Years students had the chance to hear her story.Amity’s experiences and insights into women’s equality, leadership, and empowerment left a lasting impact on our students. They are grateful for the opportunity to learn from her and are motivated to effect positive change and embrace personal growth as young women.
‘Personally, I loved the Amity Dry presentation and loved being able to greet her as well! I believe her energy and the way she presented herself were amazing and they really captured the point she was trying to make.’ Charli
‘I really like her vibe, it made me and other students feel comfortable with her. I also really like how she spoke about all the bumps in her life and show how far she has come from those tough times.’ Krystina
‘I really enjoyed Amity’s presentation due to the fact that she gave personal experience of what she had been through, and how she went about those tough times in her life to benefit herself. She also gave really inspiring advice on how to be independent and how to not rely on anyone. I would definitely want her back next year.’ Amelia
‘I think she was a really good speaker and gave good advice for girls our age. I also thought it was good how she shared about the hard times in her life and how she stood up for herself which is something people our age might need to hear and could use in the future.’ Kasey
‘I really enjoyed Amity coming in and presenting. Her words and experiences of what she has been through and how she built herself back up was really inspiring. Her advice definitely will help lots of people and inspire them to become more confident and brave individuals.’ Sienna
The 2023 Year 7 Retreat followed the theme of Connection and was centred Jesus’s commandment to “Love your neighbour as yourself”.
It was a fun-filled day of creative activities, developing and strengthening social relationships, and creating space for students to connect with themselves, their teachers, and their peers.
Year 7 students rugged up for a brisk walk to the Molinara Club where they were challenged by a variety of team-building games that developed their confidence to engage with friends and make new connections. Starting with a fun game to get to know the retreat teachers, students took ownership of the retreat by creating a set of shared expectations to guide the day. Following a variety of connection games that appealed to a range of strengths, students had the opportunity to work with different peer combinations as they created stunning dreamcatchers, sharing wool as a symbol of their connections with others. During break times, a shiny photobooth celebrated friendships and fun, laying the foundation for memories that students will cherish for a lifetime.
Students participated in discussions about the theme of connection and looking to Jesus’s teachings as a reminder of how they could live out the Core Value of Courage by building healthy relationships and showing love to their neighbour, regardless of differences. Following a delicious pizza lunch, our Class of 2028 wrote a letter to their future self to be opened on their Year 12 Retreat as a reminder of who they were and what they loved when they were in Year 7. The session ended with a reverent liturgy, giving students the opportunity to reflect on their experiences and share what they were grateful for as their letters were collected and stored for safekeeping. Students closed out the day with a joyous dance party, celebrating the connections established and strengthened throughout the day.
The response from students was overwhelmingly positive and a sense of excitement closed out the day as they moved back to school surrounded by friends.
Navigating friendships in high school can be challenging, but it’s important to remember that it’s a normal part of growing up and learning how to build healthy relationships with others.
Here are some tips for navigating lasting friendships that you might like to chat to your daughters about:
Be yourself: The most important thing is to be true to yourself. Don’t try to be someone you’re not just to fit in with a particular group. Authenticity is vital to building lasting friendships.
Find common interests: One of the easiest ways to form a friendship is to find someone with similar interests. Joining clubs or extracurricular activities can be a great way to meet like-minded people.
Listen and show kindness: Being a good listener and showing kindness towards your friends is important. Be there when they need someone to talk to and offer support when they’re struggling.
Communicate openly and honestly: Communication is key to any relationship. If you have an issue with a friend, it’s important to address it openly and honestly. Don’t let things build up and fester, as it can lead to resentment and, ultimately, the end of the friendship.
Respect boundaries: It’s important to respect your friends’ boundaries and personal space. Don’t pressure them to do something they’re uncomfortable with, and always ask for their consent before doing anything that could potentially harm the friendship.
Be patient: Friendships take time to develop, and it’s important to be patient. Don’t expect to become best friends with someone overnight. It takes time to build trust and form a lasting bond.
Be willing to forgive: We all make mistakes. We all need permission to mess up at times. Give others the grace that you would want to receive.
Don’t try to change people: Each person deserves to be respected for who they are without judgement.
It is ok not to hold one person responsible for being everything at all times: Know your friends. Friends for fun, for challenging you, for sports, for confiding in. Know which one could be for which.
Talk to a trusted adult for guidance: If you are not sure about something, talk to an adult you trust. They can be a good source of support, and they have life experience.
Remember that friendships can be a great source of support and happiness but also require effort and work. You can navigate lasting friendships in high school and beyond by being true to yourself, finding common interests, showing empathy, communicating openly and honestly, respecting boundaries, and being patient.
