Eric Agyeman Values Workshop

Eric Agyeman Values Workshop 

Year 7 students participated in a Values workshop on Thursday 30th of November.

 The presenter Eric spoke about his journey in life from teen gang member to African Australian impact award winner. 

He informed students about his struggles with mental health, low self-esteem, and bullying. 

Eric explained the importance of care, respect and how to counter bullying and he demonstrated how students can build resilience. 

Eric is one of the most charismatic, inspirational, and energetic speakers that has presented at Epping Secondary College.

 The content of the workshop really aligned with our school values of care respect and resilience. Students were surveyed and 97% of students recommended the workshop for Year 7 students in 2024.

What Year 7 students learned from the workshop:

Words are powerful, think before you speak, words can hurt and words can heal, people who bully can impact on your confidence for years, believe in yourself, be persistent and never give up, positive self-talk and say affirmations daily, you can do anything you put your mind to, show care and respect to everyone, failure is not a person it is an event, make the right choices and follow your dreams, why you should not be racist, how to deal with bullying, we are unstoppable, don’t give in to peer pressure and you can change your life.

The workshop taught us about how failure is part of life. Keep trying when things go wrong. 

Also, you can achieve in life no matter your skin colour. I believe the workshop taught us about care and respect for other people.

You will always have a purpose in life and you’re worth it. Don’t believe everything people say to you.

What Students liked about Eric as a presenter:

Eric’s stories, inspiring words, humour, energy, funny awesome, understanding, how in touch he is with kids, jokes, when he impersonated his father, was genuine, shared his life and Gen Z slang.

With Gratitude:

I would like to thank Eric for his generosity for presenting this workshop to students free of charge. 

Eric is also part of the CONNECT group that runs activities in the library every Thursday at lunchtime. 

Volunteers and Youth workers give up their time to organise lunchtime activities that enable students to connect with peers and adults in a safe and supportive environment. 

Values Workshop:

CONNECT Group:

Pasifika Group:

The Pasifika program started Semester 2 and concluded on Wed 6th December. 

The program enabled students to connect with peers and a mentor to learn about and celebrate culture. 

Madi Sami (ex- student) facilitated the program with the support of Georgia Tziros – Mental Health Practitioner and, Leanne Halsall (wellbeing teacher).

 Students participated in activities such as So Makolo, Lape, volleyball, rugby, and trivia quizzes. 

Comments from students

Students liked the Pasifika program because:

it gave me an opportunity to connect with our people of the Pacific, got to know each other and connect, learned new things, and participated in traditional cultural games, it’s a break from everything else at school, it’s a place to relax with my friends and you get to communicate with friends and learn about culture. 

I would like to extend my gratitude to Madi Sami and Georgia Tziros for supporting the students at Epping secondary College and for their efforts with the Pasifika program. 

To the school community, I am taking leave for most of next year and so I say farewell for now. Best wishes for 2024.

 Leanne Halsall

Student Wellbeing