29 Jun 2022
Our 2022 Captains of School, Isabel Duggan and Elena Chiam
Above (L-R): Isabel Duggan and Elena Chiam
What is important to you about being Captain of School?
Elena: Being a Captain of School is a genuine honour. It’s a unique role, where the job description is essentially to represent the students. I take this seriously, and I think it’s the most important part of the job. Taking issues, ideas, and questions from the student body to other student leaders or staff is essential. A school runs for students; therefore, for the best experience possible, student input is needed. My role in the student voice machine is important to me; I am trusted to listen and to speak for the students and to be part of finding solutions.
Isabel: Throughout the remainder of the year, I would love to further develop connections with other students. As students ourselves, Elena and I have shared the same experiences, circumstances and emotions as all other students, and we are a more relatable figure in leadership than any staff member. I aim to use this understanding to drive necessary change and make beneficial decisions so that School is a safe and enjoyable environment for all students. I also believe that contributing to a vibrant School community is exceptionally relevant and important. One of the biggest losses to come from the pandemic has been a dampening on the once energetic and joyful community spirit Loreto Toorak offers. It is important that as Captains of School, we strongly emphasise the Loreto spirit this year, and I am grateful to have some influence in doing so.
What strengths do you bring to your role?
Elena: I am creative and passionate about helping others and making a difference. I try to be fair because it gives everyone a chance to be heard and results in useful and respected solutions. Additionally, I would not be in student leadership if I didn’t care about the experiences and development of all the students. I remember the challenges and treasured moments of my time at School and know that every student has their own. Being able to take my experiences, listen to those students around me to try to make Loreto Toorak an even better place is the privilege of my position.
Isabel: I have always appreciated and been moved by any form of kindness that has been shown toward me. I am a strong believer in the power of kindness and will always advocate for the importance of empathy. I endeavour to lead with kindness and compassion, as I want to make the people around me feel supported and uplifted. I am also an extremely curious person, who will never settle with a substandard understanding of a situation or concept. I am always seeking answers, explanations and different perspectives. This curiosity allows me to perceive the world objectively and understand a range of viewpoints, so that I can grasp a greater understanding of the community I lead.
What does the value of Freedom mean in the School context?
Elena: To no one’s surprise, I’ve been thinking about Freedom a lot this year. Mary Ward’s work centred around granting freedoms to people. The most prominent for me is the freedom given to young women of her era through education. Mary Ward talked about an inner freedom, which she said was developed by being accepting of self, being open to others, and trusting life. A Mary Ward education encourages this, encourages self-knowledge through teaching, an open circle of friends, and a growth mindset that encourages and flourishes under change. All of these, I think, encompass freedom.
Isabel: Freedom should be applied in the School context in ways that help us recognise our freedom to be educated in a supportive environment. Through this, we become empowered to fight for the freedoms of those who are less fortunate.
What are you passionate about? How does that help you be a positive leader for the School community?
Elena: I am passionate about the strength of independent young women. I care deeply about fostering this in our School community, and I think this makes me a positive leader. The capabilities of young women are still undervalued, despite positive changes in this area. I am happy to have any contribution to the development of considerate, assertive, knowledgeable young women, and to see it take place. I strive to emulate the amazing examples I have around me in peers and teachers, and to set a positive example myself.
Isabel: I describe my passions as innovation, inspiration and problem-solving, and I tend to gravitate toward activities involving a future-oriented solution to arising problems, specifically, environmental sustainability. At School, and in my Captaincy role, I am fascinated and focused on implementing new ideas to support an inspiring environment. I love problem-solving through innovation, which is critical in conversations and I believe this passion helps me to be a positive leader for the School, as I don’t shy away from a problem. In fact, I face it head on, with enthusiasm and determination. I believe this energy contributes to greater motivation for all.
What is the most valuable lesson your Loreto Toorak education has taught you?
Elena: A confidence and capability in public speaking is one of the most valuable things Loreto Toorak has given me. To confidently express myself is a powerful skill. Whether it be developing reasoning skills in English or putting them into practice in the adrenaline-inducing heat of a debate, I have enjoyed developing this skill and hope to carry it with me always.
Isabel: The most significant lesson I’ve learnt is to find my power within knowledge. I am forever curious, and it is through this that I have established a sincere love of learning, which has truly allowed me to embody my own confidence and character.
What is your proudest accomplishment?
Elena: I find this difficult to answer, because I don’t think there is a singular moment of which I am most proud. I am proud of consistent effort and of growth, which, sometimes is reflected back to me in a successful event, or in a grade, or in the comfort of a friendship. Rather than my grades, or the result of my soccer match, or of being Captain of School, I am instead proud of how I study, how I train, and of contributing to my community.
Isabel: For weeks I’ve been contemplating my answer. However, no matter how hard I try to think of something else, I will always come back to being elected as Captain of School. Each year, I have looked up to the captains as independent, powerful and intelligent young women. To think that others may now admire myself in the same way, makes me incredibly proud, so I don’t think I could possibly see past my captaincy role as my proudest accomplishment.
This article was published in the June 2022 Mandevillian (Vol. 37, No. 1), available for online reading and download in the Publications section of our website.