Year 12 Speeches

LAUREN’S SPEECH

Good Afternoon, My name is Lauren Evans and I am honoured to stand here today as a year 12 student and reflect on my journey at Australian Christian College; as well as celebrate the incredible accomplishments of the Year 12 graduates. 

I have had the privilege to be part of Australian Christian College since year 7, which feels like a lifetime ago but at the same time just like yesterday. It feels surreal standing here now reflecting on everything I and everyone in year 12 have learned as well as accomplished, and it is amazing to see how far we have all come. 

When I first started at Australian Christian College, I did have some doubts about what distance education would look like and whether I would be able to make the transition from in class learning to online learning. At this time I was dealing with some health issues and transitioning to a new school definitely wasn't easy. However, looking back now; it is the best thing I have done, as I have been able to grow so much not just with my academics but as a person as well. Over the years, ACC has taught me that we live in a world which is full of challenges, however, the way in which we decide to respond to those challenges is what truly matters.

I had the honor to serve as a student leader in Year 11. This experience taught me the importance of leadership, listening and supporting one another as well as the importance of accountability. It enabled me to make connections with students in different year levels, where it reminded me that we are never alone in our journey and we are all in it together.

In Year 11, I decided to complete the General pathway as I believed this best suited my goals for the present and in the future even though initially I thought that I would challenge myself with ATAR.

I studied 5 subjects as well as pursuing my passion of health and nursing. I completed my Certificate III in Health Services Assistance as well as Certificate III in Acute care, which also involved me completing 80 hours of work placement at my local nursing home. 

I decided to continue down the General Pathway, In Year 12, where I completed 4 General subjects alongside completing my Cert IV in Preparation in Health and Nursing studies. At times balancing both my general subjects and my certificates was challenging, however I am very happy to say that it was definitely worth every minute. I am currently working as a Disability Support Worker and waiting for my next opportunity, hopefully to study at University, a Bachelor of Registered Nursing.

On behalf of the graduating Year 12s, I would like to say a huge thank you to all the teachers here at Australian Christian College, who have played a huge role in our learning journey and all that we have accomplished. You have pushed us to challenge ourselves, inspired us to aim higher, as well as always providing support and guidance, in which I and all the year 12s are incredibly grateful for. 

I would like to take a moment to congratulate the Year 12 graduates. You have all worked extremely hard to get where you are today and we can be very proud of ourselves. All the late nights and early mornings, and the victories we have had, big and small have led us to this day. So take this time to look back and be proud of all that we have accomplished and be excited for what is ahead; whether this involves continuing your education, going into the workforce or taking some time to figure out what your next steps are, I know that we will all go on to achieve amazing things. And always remember to face every challenge you have with courage and always push forward as the future is ours to create. 

Thank you

EDEN’S SPEECH

Introduction

Good afternoon, parents, teachers, and fellow students. My name is Eden Cooper-Lepre, and I feel it is quite the achievement to be standing here today alongside my fellow Year 12 distance education students.

My Background

I live on a sheep farm near a small wheatbelt town called Mukinbudin or, as the locals call it, Muka. And yes - There are plenty of cute little lambs (unfortunately, I couldn't bring one with me today).

Before joining ACC in 2022, I was Home-schooled - Since year 2, to be precise. But since then, I have discovered a wonderful environment that has inspired and propelled me to do greater things that I would have never imagined. 

What the school provides

ACC gave me the freedom to stay home on the farm whilst also giving me access to a senior secondary education.

It's also given me the flexibility to be out in the shed one moment and get stuck into classwork during the next. And it wasn't just me! There were plenty of occasions when people attended classes in cars or trains- And not to mention even Maccas!

Teachers and Parents

On behalf of the student body, I want to say thank you to the teachers and parents.  Parents who have made this experience possible by encouraging us to study, stay focused and do our best by beating the deadlines- courtesy of Mr Y. 

And to the Teachers! They certainly made it possible because, without them, we would sit there looking at a mountain of textbooks with scary-looking words or equations, as in Chemistry's case… Fun Stoichiometry and Chemical Solutions….Fairly glad that's over. 

(And on that note, let us pay tribute to Music with Meyer and the Ghost of Room 3!) 

But nonetheless, we are indebted to our teachers for going above and beyond to make schooling possible. They and our parents save us from wanting to sleep in all day and give up when things get difficult.

Lunch Club, Leadership and Excursions

This brings us to the students - wow, what a surprise –

A big part of the ACC school experience is the Lunch club and the excursions. During my time, I saw the rise of many popular trends- and even started a few- 

Gone are the days for those who remember when your Takunuma and ACC connect posts were full of rivalry. Gone also are the shenanigans witnessed during the Lunch Club Teleconferences. But the one thing that isn't gone is the memories that it created, memories that bind many of us together—or possibly reignite lost rivalry. When we all met up at fun excursions such as Scitech and Whiteman Park, we all had a blast.

Another thing that began during my second year in the school was the leadership role. I was one of the first leaders who created ACC Connect announcements and acted as a role model for other students. From leadership camp to running Lunch club events, I would highly recommend and encourage any student who feels they have some leadership potential to step forward and contact Mr Wiseman.

Final Words of Wisdom

So here we are, Year 12, at the end of our school journey and beginning an even greater one. As we move forward, we encourage all the other year groups to challenge yourselves to achieve God's potential in you.

Coming from a farming background, I would like to leave you with these bible verses that have guided me in my journey:

John 10 verses 3 and 14- The Sheep and the shepherd

The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep, and my sheep know me. 

Each sheep is unique, and when befriended, they follow their leader faithfully. May we be His unique sheep and follow our leader, Jesus.

We give our heartfelt thanks to our supporters, parents, and teachers for granting us the opportunity that has led us to this point in our learning. Your support and guidance has been invaluable. We couldn't have done it without you. Farewell, and may everybody have a wonderful rest of your day.