When BSSC Year 12 student, Bella Parkes, was in Year 9 a love affair with history was born when she selected an intriguing new mythology subject being offered by Crusoe College.
A few years later, it’s no surprise her favourite Year 12 subject is Ancient History, which integrates beautifully with another favourite, Classical Studies.
Bella has been amazed by how people down through the ages have been so similar.
“We could learn so much by taking more seriously what worked, and what didn’t work, for—say—the Ancient Greeks,” she says.
“While non-Greeks were seen as barbaric and requiring obliteration, the Ancient Greeks were concurrently inventing remarkable devices and evolving dramatically in areas such as mathematics and philosophy.
“They valued knowledge and independence, thought for themselves, and were willing to challenge and change ideas about themselves and the world.”
Her favourite historical figure is Sappho, a Greek lyric poet writing around 600BC.
There are many who believe Sappho was a lesbian and for Bella, who is part of the queer community, this possibility only makes the surviving fragments of her work even more inspiring.
During the upcoming holidays, Bella will ‘live the dream’ as she travels to Greece and Italy for two weeks on a school trip to visit sites she has previously only read about.
Bella’s other Year 12 subjects are English Literature, Environmental Science, and General Maths.
Like many students who enjoy school, procrastination and motivation can still be annoying gremlins. Despite them, Bella has taken on the challenge to do well.
Practice questions and flash cards help embed important information and Bella employs an interesting and effective study technique: memorising what she needs to learn and then teaching it to her mum.
“She knows almost as much about Ancient Greece as I do,” Bella laughs. “Her questions are incredibly helpful.”
Listening to music, reading, bike riding or indulging herself for a short time with TV or video games, keep VCE pressures in balance for Bella, who is also a keen writer and loves to dance stress away.
“But, if something is due, getting it done and out of the way is obviously the best remedy!
Bella often recommends BSSC to others and believes she has flourished personally and as a leader—as well as excelling academically.
‘Enabling’ is the term she uses to describe the college.
“I’ve been constantly growing as a person since coming here. BSSC enables me to do my best and have the best shot at a great future.
“There are so many opportunities and freedoms to take your path into your own hands, yet still be supported as you accept responsibility for your progress.”
These freedoms and opportunities are her favourite aspect of the college and learning to take responsibility has been integral to her maturing during VCE.
She has also found it easy to connect with BSSC’s queer community and feels the college is a more open place for LGBTIQA+ students than other schools.
After leadership roles in primary school and her 7-10 college, Bella put her hand up to become one of four Year 11 Student Ambassadors last year.
“I thought the program was a great way to contribute to the college and my peers and I also made new friends who were studying completely different subjects to me.”
Bella enjoyed representing the college at events such as the Anzac Ceremony, and during Open Days she enjoyed helping new students and their families get to know the college.
She also appreciates that taking on leadership roles looks great on a resume.
While the Ambassador program is a valuable conduit for student ideas to easily reach college leadership, Bella would like to see more ‘gateways’ for students to access information.
“The screens all around the college are terrific, but I’ve discovered quite a few students don’t make the best use of Compass and can miss great opportunities because they don’t check it regularly.”
Bella is also interested in the Environmental Leadership Team and is considering joining the Principal Advisory Group—which Kylie Hand hopes will increase the scope of student opinions and ideas reaching college leadership.
While her future career is yet to be clarified, Bella expects to take a gap year to work and then travel. After this, she plans to head to university to continue her ancient history passion.
She’s also going to explore the possibility of concurrently completing a creative writing course—perhaps a diploma—because whatever else she does, Bella would love to become an author.
“I love reading dystopian fantasy or adventure books and can imagine myself writing in these genres too. I loved the recent BSSC writing workshop run by Australian author, Cate Kennedy.
“I know I have been given a lot of privileges and encouraged to do something with my potential. I’m grateful for opportunities to be able to work for what I want.
“My parents impress me a lot. My values have been shaped by good, fun, kind, hard-working people who are very inspirational.
“My dad is a teacher and he’s made me aware that so many students across the world are truly stuck because of wars, poverty, and discrimination.”
These issues concern Bella greatly. She also wants to see more protection and preservation of the natural world and the many species presently threatened with extinction.
Given the chance for a conversation with her younger self, Bella says her advice would revolve around avoiding being defined by the expectations of others.
“I’d say, ‘Don’t lose sight of yourself. Lots of things are going to change and there will be many challenges. Think about what you want’.
“Hold on to yourself and hold onto hope.”
