Duality

I found these on my laptop whilst procrastinating my semesters worth of work and thought I would share them with you all.

Last year in my VCE Media (Photography) class we were asked to create a sequence of photographs and thoroughly research the meaning behind it.  

I decided to focus my photographs around the theme of hidden identities and the duality of a person. I designed my folio around the quote ‘Be kind, for everyone is fighting a battle you know nothing about.’ 

Please enjoy my random post of my photographs, this literally was the cause of my excessive hair lose and drainage of tears each night in my final year of school. Here are 8 of my 15 photographs for you all... (as I cannot seem to find the other 7 and their whereabouts????) 

Enjoy the result of my sufferings. 

Claire Louise xxx

End of an Era

Today marks the conclusion of a 13 year exciting, drawn out journey of my schooling career. After a few days of reflection the final day has come and gone WAAAY too quickly.

Beginning my school journey as a shy and awkward little teenager and ending it as worldly and (somewhat) mature adult in a matter of years has given not only myself but each and every one of us an opportunity to become the person whom we are today.
The realisation of not coming to school every day, greeting the same people each morning, eating the same lunch and sitting in the same places each day is a surreal feeling, which will be something I will miss I think.
It has only been in the recent months that I have realised just how much I value and appreciate the friendships which I have made throughout my time at school.

It has been an amazing journey and I am so grateful that I was able to spend it with the people that I did.

Being selected to represent the college throughout the year as a college captain has not only shaped me as a person, but created so many memories and friendships that I hope I will cherish for a long time.

As for the future, I have not a single clue what that holds. (Cries)

Claire Louise xxx

Foreigner Experience

Last week I said goodbye to my Italian brother for three months. Not only was it an experience of a life time for him, but also for myself and my family. These past three months we have travelled and become tourists within our own home town, Melbourne.

Each weekend was a different adventure for the four of us, whether it be sight seeing, trying different foods, or taking him along to typical Australian sporting activities.

Learning about their working lifestyle, food and cultural world was mind blowing to understand and I am so grateful that I was given the chance to host someone for 12 weeks and create a small insight to what life is like on the other side of the world.

Experiencing Australia was a very adventurous activity to do in my last year of school, however I do not regret it at all. Knowing that you have made a friend on the other side of the world is extremely exciting feeling, hopefully one day, you will see them again in their own country and get an understanding of what life is like for them on a normal basis.

Claire Louise xxx

Big First Day!

So today was the big day. The last first day of high school I will ever have to attend to. It was so full on and overwhelming for a Friday. 

It begun with an entire school assembly which was run by myself along with the other six college captains. Then throughout the day was filled with information, lectures, reuniting with familiar faces and jumping up and down to the fact we were put with friends in certain classes. Something kicked in however, hours after school ended, this year is going to be a BIG year.

So whilst I begun my final year of school to a level of contentment, here I was working at my part time job after school, realising that there is one more year left of high school, that is it, I will not be returning to this school next year. All of the friends you have made, the lovely teachers who have helped you along the way and shaped us as people, they are all going to be a memory. 

My advice that I cannot stress enough to everyone is just try your best this year. 

- Try your best in your studies. Create a goal now that you wish to aim for and work your butt off until you get there. When you are head set, you are mind set.

- Try your best to make sure you are always smiling. There will be crash moments, many of them, but just keep smiling, as I was told today, the sun will always rise and the stars will always be there, no matter what happens.

- Try your best to make friendships with those who you never thought you would befriend. Who knows, they may be there for your when you have no one.

- Try your best to however also keep your friendship groups this year despite the frantic studying. They may frustrate you, and you may not be invited to all of their endeavours, but they are your friends and you respect that.

-Try your best to continue your regular hobbies, continue your sport games, and your dancing. Read that book that you have been saying, 'I'll get to that when I have time.'

-That leads me to finish off by saying, always make time. Nothing is ever too important to take a step back and breathe. In the end, the score or mark you receive at the end of high school does not define you as a person. 

We can do this!

Claire Louise xxx

Year 12 Nerves

Tomorrow morning embarks a new chapter in my life. 

Tomorrow morning at 8:35am I will begin my final year of high school. I will completing units 3&4 of my Victorian Certificate of Education, and to say I am nervous is a flat out understatement. 

High school in a nut shell is all just preparation for year 12, your final year at school. At the end of the year, all of the Exams and tests you do throughout the year all calculate together and create an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank, (ATAR).  

This is a number that will benchmark what university and course you pursue on with if you please.

This is going to be a big year, but also an eventful one. A year filled with many many laughs, yet many tears (no doubt). 

I am turning 18 this year, meaning in Australia, I am a legal adult. I become a legal driver, and drinker. However with all of these exciting and new things popping up, keeping level headed with school will most definitely have to be my NUMBER ONE focus. 

Chin up for everyone who is beginning their first day tomorrow. As a wise man once said, 'We are all in this together.' - Troy Bolton (High School Musical.) 

Love you all, good luck! 

Claire Louise xxx