Welcome back Krystal De Napoli

Year 11 & 12 students were treated to an inspiring SPD session this week when past WHS student Krystal De Napoli came to speak to them. Astrophysicist, author, weekly presenter on RRR, holder of a string of awards, and a proud Indigenous woman, Krystal spoke to the current senior students about her journey. 

Krystal recalls sitting in the same space as a Year 12 student listening to a guest speaker who inspired her to complete her studies and head off to uni. In her talk, she highlighted how this was no easy feat … her final years at WHS were a constant battle with emotional challenges and stresses including the death of a parent, how she struggled with attendance issues and engagement, her reluctance to reach out for help and then the final blow of not achieving the ATAR score she wanted to get into her desired course at Uni. Undeterred, she enrolled in Science at Monash, becoming the 1st in her family to attend university. Krystal highlighted it was a steep learning curve and no easy ride as further traumas and obstacles were placed in front of her, but she has come through with flying colours. Her love of the night sky and her indigenous links have ignited her career and her passion for science remains strong. One of the key take away messages for the students was that although life may throw up many challenges, there are always ways to get to where you want to go so long as you are willing to keep working at it. Who knows, maybe in another 10 years or so, one of the current Year 11 or 12’s will be able to come back to inspire a future generation of achievers.

Lesley Forman

Senior Years Leader