Alumni help students plan their future path

Keynote speaker Professor Emeritus Margot Kearns.

Year 11 students at Caroline Chisholm College have some big decisions to make before they graduate high school in 2026; lucky for them, a panel of accomplished former students recently joined the cohort for the annual Careers High Tea to share their knowledge.

Amongst the former students were the first captain of the college, an Aussie sporting star, a secondary educator, an ABC journalist, the head of marketing for a global brand, and a doctor.

"The Careers High Tea is a stand out event on our calendar and one of the special moments in the school year," Principal Leader, Tania Cairns said.

"It gives our students a rare chance to connect with women who are making an impact in their fields and pursuing their passions with purpose.

"As our Year 12s begin their HSC year, it's the perfect opportunity to spark ideas, conversations, and confidence about life beyond the College."

One passionate student in the crowd was Rhianna Forsyth, who has many ideas about her life after high school.

"One of the main areas I want to explore is the hospitality industry, but I will be taking on opportunities in agriculture and teaching as well because there are so many things that catch my eye, and I want to give everything a go," she explained.

"The Careers High Tea was a great opportunity to give me more insights into how I can build myself in different careers. It was nice to listen to the panel's thoughts on their career journeys and how I could apply some of their life experiences to my own life."

The young student felt lucky to take part in the event.

"Not many schools have this opportunity, so they don't get the same insights into what different careers are like. This event provides those insights because former students detail their experiences - and not just learning experiences, but strategies they used to reach the roles that they are in today," Rhianna stated.

"They also explained that change is OK, and you may be led down a different path, or a path that isn't direct, but that's OK, and you need to take the opportunities that come your way."

Partnerships and Pathways Coach Adam MacNamara said Rhianna's reflections exemplify the event's importance.

"Rhianna's feedback shows that the Careers High Tea matched her aspirations, goals, and where she's at with her decision making," MacNamara stated.

"One of the things our students learnt was to look at the whole game board and expand their perspectives. There is no set path to follow, and you don't have to do something because everyone else is."