Arriving in Australia as a twelve-year-old from the Philippines, Year 12 student, Ashton Daza, remembers being—understandably—shy.
“If I could go back and give myself some advice, I’d say; ‘Put yourself out there sooner’. It wasn’t until halfway through my 7-10 college, I began to make more friends and take more opportunities.”
However, Ashton reflects on a certain closed-mindedness that persisted in him until it was challenged by his experiences at BSSC.
Thanks to the variety of people he’s met here who have shown him it’s okay if people don’t always fit your expectations, this closed-mindedness has opened up into a greater acceptance of others.
“Flaws and mistakes are not a reason to judge someone. I’ve found when you express yourself here—and not just through the clothes you wear—people don’t write you off just because they disagree with you.
“Diverse is the word I would use to describe this college.”
He describes BSSC as a place where students will find others who understand and appreciate them. Whatever your interest, Ashton says there will be a place and space for you, and you will be able to make a better transition to adulthood.
“The college is great academically, but if you want to get more out of VCE than just a great ATAR, then this school has it all.”
Ashton tells his friends still attending his previous school that they should make the move to BSSC.
These days he is grabbing opportunities with great enthusiasm—such as taking on a Student Ambassador role and volunteering with Breakfast Club—and says his whole life is benefitting.
His ability to manage time better is one of the valuable skills BSSC has taught him.
He has found this skill is harder to learn where there’s a more rigorous schedule and culture and appreciates figuring out the study techniques that work best for him without the college dictating how things must be done.
He’s also found a terrific level of support and generous sharing of ideas between students as techniques for SAC and exam preparation are discussed.
“One thing that works well for me is writing a list of goals at the start of a study session. It makes the whole session more organised—I’m much more likely to finish what I started and feel like I’ve done a good job.”
His favourite place to study is the BSSC library.
Going for a walk and/or being able to mentally ‘put everything down’ and forget about it for a period of time, has been a great way to de-stress.
“If you think about your studies all the time, you’ll be stressed all the time.”
His Year 12 subjects are Spec Maths, Physics, Drama Studies, Theatre Studies, and English Language. He completed ¾ Maths Methods in Year 11.
He suspects there are few student in the state mixing STEM and Drama in the way he has.
“STEM and acting are my two favourite things in the whole world,” he says, “so I couldn’t ask for anything more than what I’ve been able to select here.”
Three of Ashton’s teachers have had a big impact on him:
His Physics teacher, Lucas Cruz Rocha, has inspired a love of Physics that has led Ashton to decide he will one day be a teacher.
Specialist Maths teacher, Matt Gill, is teaching the subject for the first time and Ashton has been deeply impressed by how hard Matt works—his work ethic forming a great example in itself.
Seamus Curtain-Magee’s honesty and support in have built Ashton’s confidence as an actor, and he knows he can rely on the advice Seamus gives him.
While Ashton’s 15-year plan may or may not unfold as he hopes, his aim is to study Engineering at Monash Uni, then spend five to seven years developing his career, followed by a Master of Education and a teaching career.
“If I have kids by then, teaching will mean I will have more time to spend with family.”
Right now, although Ashton has put his interest in flute and guitar on ice while completing VCE, he’s still working three part-time jobs: a cleaner at Flora Hill Quality Meats; a ‘dishy’ at Ms Batterhams Restaurant (Ashton says he’s never met a nicer chef); and he’s employed serving, restocking and cleaning at The Fruit Shack.
“I can’t really tell you how I fit it all in, but I enjoy it and know it will help me get places.”
Very grateful for these, and other opportunities Ashton says he feels he didn’t earn—such as family, friends, jobs, study opportunities—he plans to make the most of them.
US actor, Robert Downey Jnr, impresses Ashton because he managed to turn his life around in a way nobody thought would be possible.
“It’s inspiring to know that you can get back up from anything if you really want to.”
Global politics is an area of concern, and Ashton wonders if US tariffs and the war in Iran will lead to increased inequality.
“Racism is also something Australia needs to talk about more,” he says. “For a country built on immigration to still be having issues with racism is pretty disappointing.
“As a person born overseas, I have some insight about this. While you don’t see the more extreme forms of racism in Bendigo and I try to stay optimistic about this, in the back of my mind I worry about it getting worse.”
In a wonderful counter-balance to these concerns, Ashton has great relationships and wonderful support from his parents and grandparents who have encouraged his thoughtfulness and taught him to value what’s truly important.
