Eloise Rudge 
2022 Student Executive 
Debating & Public Speaking Co-Captain 

 

What have been the highlights of your time at St Catherine’s?  

Choosing highlights is always one of the most difficult things as I have thoroughly enjoyed my 15 years at St Catherine’s. A more recent highlight for me was being a part of the Student Executive, which is an opportunity I am extremely grateful for. A huge part of our role was planning the weekly assemblies, which I enjoyed, as we worked as a team brainstorming new ways to make the assemblies engaging and exciting. The most gratifying part of this experience was when a younger student would say to me how much they enjoyed the assembly that week, which definitely made all our hard work worth it! 

A Junior School highlight was the Bike Education Program in Year 6, which was a great activity. Each week, we all looked forward to riding around the streets of Toorak, and along the river, testing our skills on the bikes with Mr Crebbin. 

What co-curricular activities were you involved in?  

One of the best aspects of a smaller school like St Catherine’s is that we are given the opportunity to participate in a broad array of co-curricular activities, sometimes regardless of skill ability! This has meant that I have been able to engage in a range of co-curriculars, from GSV Sport and Rowing to various Music Ensembles, like Jazz Band and Jorgensen Orchestra.  

I have also loved being part of the Debating and Public Speaking Program, as I have been able to compete in not only more traditional debating competitions, but also some that are more unique, and have really helped me develop my skills, like Model UN, British Parliamentary Debating and Mooting.  

What were your favourite subjects?  

In Year 12, I would consider all my subjects my favourite because they are all ones I chose based on an interest in the subject! That being said, my most favourite subjects were Global Politics and French, because they correspond the most with the areas that I want to study at university, so the skills and knowledge seem more transferable. I also loved History of Revolutions, which I completed in Year 11, as History has always been a subject, I am very passionate about.  

What do you plan to study post School?  

I am still partially undecided, but I know that in the future I want to pursue a career in diplomacy, so a university degree for me will revolve around politics and international relations, potentially with a Law degree. I also plan to continue learning French, through a Diploma of French, or a similar opportunity.  

What led you to selecting this career pathway? 

I didn’t really know anything about diplomacy until 2016, when we were on a family holiday during the Federal election, and my parents had to visit the Australian Embassy in Paris to vote. This demonstrated to me how our world is interconnected, and it is something I have wanted to learn more about ever since, and be involved in, as I think diplomatic relationships can make big, positive changes across the world.  

How has St Catherine’s assisted you in making your study and career choices? 

St Catherine’s has been pivotal in helping me try and achieve my ambitions regarding study and a career. Through the continuous support I am given by the School and teachers, I have felt confident enough to apply to universities across the country and overseas, which will hopefully help me follow my first-choice career path.  

Where do you hope to study?  

This is also something to be decided, but I am planning on studying either ANU in Canberra or in the UK if the opportunity arises. I think for me the experience of moving away from home will allow me to continue to grow and develop as a person, become more confident, and access even more amazing opportunities.  

What do you see yourself doing in five years’ time?  

In five years’, time, I hope to have completed, or be completing, an undergraduate degree, depending on what I choose. I would love to have lived in a different country for a bit, either for a degree, or on an exchange, and be looking at either completing postgraduate studies, or getting ready to enter the professional world.  

How do you believe St Catherine’s and your teachers have helped you reach your goals?  

The teachers at St Catherine’s have been amazing throughout my time here. Their passion and genuine interest in the subjects that they teach make them so much more engaging to learn, and you definitely feel that they care about you, and how you are doing, not only in an academic sense. This becomes most apparent in Year 12, where the support from teachers becomes essential, whether it is marking an essay you didn’t even want to read yourself or answering a last-minute question the day before the exam!  

The opportunities at St Cath’s have also help me reach my goals and develop as a person. The wide range of co-curricular activities that we were always encouraged to try, and participate in, allowed for the development of a broad range of skills and competences beyond the classroom, which I think is extremely necessary for the future.  

In 2022, the Year 12 theme was Emerge. What does this mean to you?  

For me, Emerge has allowed the students to be really focused on achieving their goals in 2022, as it made us properly consider who we wanted to be by the end of the year, or who we wanted to emerge as! For me, at the beginning of Year 12, I decided that by the end of the year, I wanted to emerge as a better leader, as well as being prepared to meet the challenges after Year 12, which I feel like is something I have achieved. 

What advice would you provide to future Year 12 students?  

As most would say, Year 12 is incredibly stressful, but also one of the best years of life! I think that the key is having a broad range of things to do, not just study. It is not worth stopping all co-curricular activities and things that you enjoy, because everyone needs to take breaks in order to be able to perform academically. However, what I have learnt is that to maintain a co-curricular schedule, organisation is key as this enables you to create consistency in your homework schedule, ensuring everything gets done! 

Another important thing to consider is that SACs are there to help you prepare for the exam, and so while they do count to your final grade, it is not worth stressing over them, otherwise you will be stressed for the whole year. I found that the most important thing when studying for SACs was doing it in a way that helped me create study materials that I could also use before the exam.  

Can you share your thoughts on holding a student leadership role in Year 12? 

I loved having a student leadership role in Year 12, as not only was it another way to have a much-needed break from study, but it really helped me develop a skill set that is perhaps most akin to a professional job, through time management, organisation, and negotiation. It allowed me to get to know girls in younger Year levels better. I would encourage anyone considering applying for a leadership position in Year 12 to do so.