When I graduated in 2012 I felt that Merici had instilled in me the confidence to always challenge myself, try new things and live outside my comfort zone.
I graduated from Merici in 2012 and some of you may recognise me as I recently started working at Merici last year as the Relief Officer. Now, when I was first asked to speak at the awards ceremony, I laughed and said, are you sure? I’m just working here and studying to be a teacher… but I was assured that my story was interesting and that it would be of value to the students so here I am.
I loved Merici.. but at the end of Year 10 a few of my friends decided to leave to go to Narrabundah College - because Narrabundah was in their words ‘way cooler than Merici’. So, following the crowd I went with them and after just seven weeks I begged my mum to let me come back to Merici because I missed it so much. Luckily, she let me come back, and I could not have been prouder to step back into the school wearing my new senior uniform in term two of year 11.
My brief absence from Merici in 2011 put into perspective just how much this school meant to me. On return, I had a newfound appreciation for all the things that this school offers it students; from the incredible pastoral care, the catholic ethos, the uniform, and most importantly the genuine respect, love and care that the staff show to the students here every day. I believe that this school truly set me up for success in my adult life. When I graduated in 2012 I felt that Merici had instilled in me the confidence to always challenge myself, try new things and live outside my comfort zone. So what did I do? Well…
After graduating I went to UNI for approximately two weeks, before I came home and told my mum that I had ‘quit UNI’ as I got a job working full time at cream café in the city… you can only imagine how that conversation went down. I worked at cream for two years before upgrading to my first Public Service job at the Department of Defence. My public service career was rewarding, and by working hard I was quickly promoted from APS 4 to 6 in the few years that I worked there. I was good at my job, but wanted to see what other opportunities were out there for me. Unsure of what to do, I decided to pack my bags and at age 23 I set off on a solo 6-month trip overseas to Southeast Asia.
During this trip I travelled to Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and the Philippines. All these countries were amazing, and I made many friends along the way. During my time in Indonesia, I made a friend who asked me if I wanted to come with her to the Philippines as she had a job working as a tour guide. I went with her, and shortly after I also got a job working for the same company on the small island of Siargao. I spent three months working as a tour guide where I took groups of 30 people on day trips to different islands close by. This was an incredible experience and I’m so grateful that I got to have that opportunity. I wanted to stay working on the island forever, but I knew that it was not a long-term option and that I would have to go home at some stage. I thought about what I liked about being a
tour guide, and how I could translate it into something more serious at home. It was then I had the epiphany that I would like to be a PE and food tech teacher as it combined the two things that I am most passionate about (food and exercise). Shortly after returning home, I enrolled into UC and commenced my Bachelor of Teaching.
Now, a Bachelor of Teaching is not something you can do overnight, and I have since been home for the last three and a half years working in the public service and studying to complete my degree. Last year I reached out to Merici to see if there were any jobs available as it was my absolute dream to be able to come back and work at Merici. Luckily, a job had just become available as the Relief Officer which I took up immediately. This job, which I still hold requires me to manage staff absences and allocate relief teachers when teachers are away. I have loved being back in the school, and I am so grateful to be back in this environment. I am due to finish my degree at the end of the year and I cannot wait to become a teacher. If I can even be even half as good as the teachers here, then I know I will be proud.
Thank you.
Jenna Fisher
