Kailyn O'Connor

Class of 2018

Kailyn O’Connor (Mornington Secondary College Dux for 2018) represented our College with pride at the State Library of Victoria during Top Talks. Top Talks is a VCAA initiative which aims to show off the best of the 2018 VCE Extended investigation student projects. Here students formally presented the culmination of many hours of work and their findings of an extended project. Kailyn spoke eloquently about her initiative to change the recycling behaviours of students at Mornington Secondary College, while others addressed topics as diverse as plant cultivation and the effectiveness of the National Disability Scheme.

It was a great honour having Kailyn present at this prestigious event which highlighted the key skills nurtured in such a progressive subject. These skills include: the ability to think critically, questions and make change to the world around us and work independently and effectively communicate ideas to achieve an outcome.

Jess O'Sullivan

Class of 2011

Thank you for asking me to write a short passage about my time at Mornington Secondary College, as my time there was truly a highlight of my young life.

I began my Mornington Secondary College journey in 2006, as an eager year 7 who was determined to take every opportunity that came my way. I quickly made new friends on the year 7 camp, many of whom I still keep in contact with today. Throughout my time at Mornington I thrived within the school productions, the Broadening Horizons Program (BHP) and the school’s countless opportunities for students to take singing lessons and learn to play new instruments. Sport was another love of mine, which was endlessly fulfilled within the excellent facilities at Mornington Secondary, as well as the several opportunities we were offered to take part in College swimming, track and field events, and interschool sporting days. I was also most passionate about my English, Psychology and Art classes, partly because of the teachers’ passion and continuous support that I received, especially later in my Mornington Secondary College journey, during VCE.

As I struggled to decide which of my passions I should follow after completing my VCE in 2011, I took the advice of the school’s career advisors and enrolled in and received my first preference – a Bachelor of Arts degree at Monash University. Due to my ATAR score – the product of not only my own hard work but mostly of the support and encouragement I received from my teachers – Monash University offered me an ongoing scholarship that saw me able to focus on my studies and not require a part-time job to financially support myself. The first year at university I was able to study a range of units from different schools within Monash including: Visual Arts, History, Behavioural Studies and Sociology, Criminology and Theatre Studies.

After my first year, I had made up my mind as to what career I desired most and decided to transfer from Monash University to Victoria University where I could study Visual Arts and Music in the same degree, whilst also earning credit for my time at Monash. Changing universities also meant giving up my scholarship and travelling on public transport for around six hours a day to attend university, but it also offered new opportunities, such as the chance to study and perform abroad in China.

For 18 months after completing my Bachelor’s degree, in 2014, I decided to take some time off studying and get a full time job within the retail sector. I worked within a clothing store for 6 months and then with a jewellery company for another 12 months to save up just enough for my partner and I to travel the world for the remainder of the year. My time overseas, mainly in America and Europe, was one of the most valuable experiences I have ever had. I was able to immerse myself in art galleries and a world of paintings and sculptures that I had spent years studying. We also dedicated so much time to discovering our heritage and meeting family we never knew we had.

After returning from such a life changing experience, I decided now was the time to pursue my dreams and become a teacher – as I had wanted to do for so long. I enrolled back at Monash University in a Master of Teaching in Secondary Education, and had completed the accelerated course within 18 months, with a High-Distinction average. This course had allowed me to reconnect with the Mornington Secondary College community as I had 6 weeks of placements at the school, during 2017. After gaining my Victorian Institute of Teaching registration, mid 2018, I was back at Mornington Secondary as a Casual Relief Teacher – where I quickly learned just how much I adored the career path I had chosen.

It is now the beginning of 2019, and I have been contracted with Mornington Secondary College as a Visual Art and Visual Communication Design teacher. I could not be more elated and excited to start the new year and share all my experience and passion for the Arts with my new students. Every day coming to work is a blessing and although the school has changed so much, it is still very much the same place that I began as a year 7 student over a decade ago. I so very much look forward to seeing how the school progresses further and what my future at Mornington Secondary College may look like.

Food Technology

Marvellous Menus Year 9