Years attended GWPS

2004 - 2010 (Prep to Year 6)

Secondary school/s attended

Brentwood Secondary College

MacRobertson’s Girls High School

Franconian International School, Erlangen (Germany)

Markgraf-Georg-Friedrich Realschule, Heilsbronn (Germany)

Lothar-von-Faber Fachoberschule, Nürnberg (Germany)

Study beyond secondary school

Technische Hochschule Georg-Simon-Ohm Nürnberg

Current qualifications

Media Engineering Student

Founding member of Diversity Media e.V

Current work

Journalist (podcast)

Mental Health Activist

Student

Family

Mum, Dad, Angel (dog) and older sister (also alumnus 2007, now completing her PhD in immunology at Harvard University, Boston)

Greatest achievement/s thus far

Moving to Germany

Graduating high school at fluent German mother-tongue level

Founding an organization that works to make the German media more diverse

Hosting a discussion panel at a vernissage of an exhibition i helped create

Achieving everything with chronic illness and the setbacks that came with it

Fondest memory of Primary School

There are so many to choose from…

I would say my favourite teacher Mrs Tomecek, whom without I would not be where i am today

School Concerts (2010 being the best, with live bands for the first time)

Being Junior School Council in Year 2 and one of the first art captains ever.

Words of advice for current GWPS students

Life is more than just striving for the best, make sure to make time to take care of yourself and do the things you enjoy.

It’s okay to ask for help. You are not alone.

Years attended GWPS

2004-2010 (Prep to Year 6)

Secondary school/s attended

Glen Waverley Secondary College

Study beyond secondary school

Monash University

Current qualifications

Bachelor of Software Engineering (Hons.) and Bachelor of Commerce (majoring in Management Studies) at Monash University

Current work

Software Developer at NAB

Family

Mum, dad, brother (also an alumnus)

Greatest achievement/s thus far

Graduating university with a double bachelors while having worked almost full time as a software developer for the second half of the degree

Fondest memory of Primary School

2008 as a whole – that was the year I had Mrs Tomecek as my year four teacher. To this day, she is the best teacher I have ever had!

Words of advice for current GWPS students

Try new things, and try to learn as much as possible about as many things as possible.

Cherish your friends and family, and show them respect and care.

Years attended GWPS

2012 - 2016

Secondary school/s attended

Mac.Robertson Girls' High School

Study beyond secondary school

N/A

Current qualifications

Student

Current work

N/A

Family

Mum and Dad

Greatest achievement/s thus far

Writing a book. Title is 'The World Beneath The Fine Print & other stories'. 

In story-form, seeks to remove the fear of mathematics from young minds and makes it more intriguing & interesting through the personification of numbers (and languages). They are given character and attributes and come alive in a fantasy world.

Fondest memory of Primary School

Year 3 sleepover! It was exciting being away from home for the first time ever!

Words of advice for current GWPS students

Years attended GWPS

1983-1987

Secondary school/s attended

Glen Waverley Secondary College

Study beyond secondary school

Deakin University Burwood

Australia & New Zealand Insurance Institute & Finance  

Current qualifications

Australia & New Zealand Insurance Institute & Finance (Fellow)

Bachelor’s in Commerce (Insurance & Marketing)

Diploma in Financial Services (Broking)

Qualified Practicing Insurance Broking

Current work

McLardy McShane Kapoor  - Director

Family

Wife (Shivani) & 1 son  (Arjun)

Greatest achievement/s thus far

Professionally  - Board member of 6 companies, Managing Director of McLardy McShane Kapoor 

Personally -  small young happy family !!

Fondest memory of Primary School

Playing 4 square (now called handball) early mornings

Words of advice for current GWPS students

Keep your options open and sponge knowledge

Years attended GWPS

2001

Secondary school/s attended

Glen Waverley Secondary College

Study beyond secondary school

Medicine

Current qualifications

MBBS
BMedSc(Hons)
FRACGP

Current work

General Practitioner (GP)
Founder of " The Health Ninja Licence"

Family

Makes everything worthwhile - Amazing wife, phenomenal son, inspirational parents and very close extended family. 

Greatest achievement/s thus far

Marrying someone who makes me a better human being.

Becoming a General Practitioner – my dream job!

Spreading  “The Health Ninja Licence”, a fun program designed to teach every Aussie primary school kid the skills they need to eliminate their risk of developing preventable diseases – both physical and mental.

Fondest memory of Primary School

I was known to be able to throw balls accurately. I used to stand my friends against a wall and throw the ball all around their body without hitting them. Once the principal at the time came out and asked me to either stop or throw the ball with HIM against the wall – I was tempted to proceed but I stopped. It was the right decision.

I made some friends that to this very day, are some of my closest friends.  

Mrs Barnes was my teacher and always made us feel good about ourselves.

A special shout out goes to those EPIC handball battles we had during recess and lunchtime.

I also kicked a basketball into a window and broke it. I can’t quite remember what happened after this but it couldn’t have been good. The only thing I remember was freezing in fear because I was “the new kid” and now I had broken something.  

Words of advice for current GWPS students

Prioritise your happiness and that of others.

Have you ever heard of the saying “Treat others    the way you want to be treated”? I find that most people are much kinder to others than themselves. I would challenge the above by saying “Treat yourself the way you treat others”.

Think of your dreams and then multiply them by 10. If people don’t think your dreams are crazy, they are not big enough.

Try to help as many people as you possibly can – what you say, what you do and what you create has immense power.  

Respect and love your parents or caregivers – there are only a handful of people that love you like they do.

Respect and love your teachers – they are teaching you things today that you may be able to use tomorrow to make your life or the life of someone else, better.

Don’t try to be better than other people, try to be better than yourself yesterday. It’s a much more enjoyable way to live life.

Years attended GWPS

Years 3 to 6

Secondary school/s attended

Glen Waverley Secondary College

Study beyond secondary school

Bachelors degree in Science at Monash University
Masters in Public Health at University of Melbourne

Current qualifications

Currently studying Diploma of Human Resources

Current work

Workforce Development Coordinator at Travellers Aid

Family

Mother, father and sister (who also attended Glen Waverley Primary. 
Husband who attended Glen Waverley Secondary.

Greatest achievement/s thus far

Completion of my studies and being employed in a job that I absolutely enjoy and an organisation that makes a difference

Fondest memory of Primary School

My teacher Ms Mackey, friendships that have lasted a lifetime.
I was fortunate enough to take friends from primary school to secondary school to university.

Words of advice for current GWPS students

Enjoy your youth and don't be afraid to try something new. Take advantage of every opportunity. Don't be scared to make mistakes, as you will be surprised at how much you learn from
your failures.

Years attended GWPS

2002

Secondary school/s attended

Glen Waverley Secondary College

Study beyond secondary school

Bachelor of Civil Engineering at Monash University/University of Melbourne

Current qualifications

Bachelor of Civil Engineering

Current work

Engineer/Estimator at Fulton Hogan

Family

Husband, 2 year old boy

Greatest achievement/s thus far

1.       My family

2.       Having a job that makes me think.

Fondest memory of Primary School

Mrs Barnes! I was the new kid and she was the bright part of my day. Mrs Barnes was known to go out of her way to help the kids and it shows because my husband and I still talk about her to this day.

Words of advice for current GWPS students

Listen to your parents.
Respect your parents.
Love your parents.

At the end of it all, they are going to be the one constant in your life. This was a piece of advice I got when I was a teenager and it’s true to this day.

Everything your teachers do is to make your life better so make their day a little brighter and do something nice for them. 

Years attended GWPS

1977-1983

Secondary school/s attended

St Michael's Grammar

Melbourne Rudolf Steiner School

Shelford Girls' Grammar

Study beyond secondary school

Monash University

University of California, Riverside

RMIT University

TAFE New South Wales

University of South Australia

Current qualifications

Bachelor of Arts

The Honours Degree of the Bachelor of Arts

Postgraduate Diploma of Arts (Applied Social Research)

Diploma of Frontline Management

Advanced Diploma of Information Technology (Business Analysis)

Graduate Diploma of Data Science  (still slogging through the Masters)

Certified Business Intelligence Professional

Certified Data Management Professional

Certified Data Vault Modeller

Certified Data Governance Professional

Current work

Senior Analyst, Strategy, Planning and Performance in Chancellery at The University of Melbourne

Family

Paul (husband) and kids, Alex (GWPS class of 2014) and Aeryn (GWPS Class of 2020)

Greatest achievement/s thus far

Two great kids

Fondest memory of Primary School

Being allowed to have a lunch order from the tuckshop for my birthday each year.

Words of advice for current GWPS students

Enjoy the journey of your life.

Everyone’s journey takes a different path and yours will intersect with many others over time and will never follow an exact route on the map of life.