'Alumni development continues during this unprecedented time'

Everybody in our community has been impacted, in some way, by the current pandemic and changes we have been faced with. Our staff, students and school community have shown resilience during this time, adapting to remote learning, and its challenges, during Term 2 and then settling back into face-to-face learning this term.

Our alumni have also adapted. They have continued to support and guide our students, albeit virtually, participating in filmed Q&A sessions, hosted by our Alumni Program Manager. Thank you Kayla Gates ‘10, Amanda Barry ‘99, Chanel Pardoe ‘14 and Abbey McGeady ’19 for participating in the filmed Q&A series; shedding light on your pathway choices and professions. It will, no doubt, be a fabulous resource for our pathways team and students!

We will be continuing to invite alumni to be involved in an online capacity until the time comes where we are able to invite them back to the College. We are also working towards adding LIVE Q&A sessions into the mix!

Please head to our MFG Alumni Facebook Page to check out some of the Alumni Q&A videos and stay tuned for when the videos become available to view on our college website.

If you are an alumna of the college and are interested in taking part in an online session (live or filmed), we’d love to hear from you. Please email Tanja Dunat Timms (Alumni Program Manager): alumni@mfgsc.vic.edu.au

‘Alumna in the Spotlight’

1.What is your name and date of birth? Laura Wood. 3rd August, 1982

2. What is your current job and did you always want to do that job? I’m a Primary School teacher. I teach in the upper primary year levels (grades 4-6). I didn’t know what I wanted to do in life, when I finished school. It took me a while to figure that out. I’m also a Group Fitness Instructor. I teach Les Mills RPM classes at various gyms in Melbourne.

3. What were the challenges you have faced in getting to where you are now? LOTS! I didn’t get into uni when I first applied at the end of year 12, (Let’s face it; I was THAT student – lazy, disengaged…just did the bare minimum to scrape through and drove my teachers INSANE!) and now that I look back on it, it was the BEST THING that could have happened!! It took the time get to know myself and to do other things, while I figured out what I wanted. I became a fully qualified Nail Technician, and I ran my own business from 2003 – 2010. I then started uni in 2007, when I decided that I wanted to follow in my mother’s footsteps and become a Primary School Teacher, as I love working with older primary aged children. During that time, I was studying full time AND still running my business. That was hard work, but I never gave up and it taught me how to manage my time effectively. Having those setbacks also helped me to appreciate the successes even more, build my resilience and has shaped who I am today.

4. Things you have achieved to get to where you are? I completed my certificate in Nail Technology in 2003 with CND (formally Creative Nail Design). I then completed my Bachelor of Education P-12 in 2010 at Victoria University. I also completed my GEL (Group Exercise Leader) certificate with Les Mills and got certified to teach RPM in 2016.

5. What motivates you? Helping others and seeing them grow and achieve their goals. I guess it’s my way of giving back to the community, as I WAS one of “those students” who made life tough for my teachers. I truly appreciate the efforts of everyone I’ve worked with over my lifetime, and how they never gave up on me, even though they probably wanted to at times.

6. Who motives you? My students, my colleagues, my boss (I am very privileged to work in a GREAT school with the best team anyone could ever ask for) and most importantly, my beautiful partner in crime, Matt.

7. What school subjects helped you most? English & General/Further Maths (do they still even call it that?) Those are basic life skills that will help you in ANY field of work that you want to get into, in the future.

8. Do you think you are an inspiration, and if so, why? I don’t know, to be honest. Probably more “real” than anything else. I think that because I was quite disengaged and lazy at secondary school, it has taught me to connect with the students who are feeling the way I did, as I understand where they’re coming from. I have used and shared my experiences to help them turn things around and to achieve their full potential. Yes, I work in a primary school, but from my own experience, disengagement begins as young as grade 4 (as it did for me).

9. Is there anything else you would like to share or add? Never give up on your dreams and goals. Use the setbacks and failures to your advantage, and learn from them to grow as a person. It may feel like the end of the world at the time, but only YOU can turn them into learning opportunities. Don’t listen to the haters or doubters either. Do what makes YOU happy!

If you are a past student of MFG and have not yet reached out, please contact our Alumni Program Manager, Tanja Dunat Timms: alumni@mfgsc.vic.edu.au

Let us know what you have been up to in the way of study/work/travel since finishing school.

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