International Students

Joint birthday celebrations

For young people, birthdays are an exciting time of year, especially for teenagers who are finding themselves at the gate towards adulthood – something they are both excited and nervous about. International students are no exception. As young people who are both discovering themselves and living in an unfamiliar environment, we feel like we have new possibilities and opportunities to shine, fly, and leave our old selves behind; and our birthdays are a milestone to celebrate. Northcote High School understands this and wishes to share it with us.

On Thursday, March 18, we jointly celebrated the international students’ whose birthdays fell within the first quarter of 2021. We shared delicious cup cakes with candles and a room full of laughter, and we felt this much needed sense of belonging, where, in this country so far away from home, we could find ourselves surrounded by the friends that have somehow become that home we so dearly missed. Some of us are turning 17 and some of us are turning 18, with our dreams already coming to fruition in a future not far from where we are. Thank you for the fun decorations and lovely gifts and all the organising done by our International Student Captains, Samuel Tran, Ivy Nguyen, Ringo Bach, Shelley Yu and Ivy Vo. Our captains work hard throughout the year organising many events for our International Student cohort.

On behalf of all the international students we would also like to thank the staff and teachers who are always taking care of us and paying attention to the way that we feel and think. Once again, we are very grateful for the efforts that every one is paying to make us happy and fulfilled. 

Kylie Le Year 12