The benefits and challenges of taking on a student exchange were well-known to BSSC Year 12 student, Matilda Wilby, when she applied to spend ten weeks in Germany from November 2025 to February 2026.
“My parents and my older sister had all participated in exchange programs and our family had hosted German exchange students.”
The support her parents have given her and her two sisters, allowing them to pursue opportunities such as international exchange programs, is something Matilda is very grateful for.
She’s also grateful for scholarships such as those which have been offered for over 50 years by SAGSE (Scholarships for Australian-German Student Exchange) covering flights and schooling.
(If you’re curious about exchange programs, check out: https://www.sagse.org.au or, if you are interested in hosting, email: hosting@gassaustralia.org.au)
Matilda was hosted by a family who live in the German village of Frücht—population 600—and attended a school (gymnasium) in the nearby city of Koblenz with her host-sister, Annike.
“School starts at 8am and finishes at 1.30pm—but the northern hemisphere winter meant it was like leaving for school in the middle of the night!”
Homesickness was only a challenge during the first week as Matilda adjusted to getting around a whole new landscape and making new friends using a language she rarely employed beyond school.
“It now feels like a second home,” she says, keen to return when she can.
The secret to a successful exchange, according to Matilda, is being open to forming new friendships and embracing the culture, including the food.
Opportunities to travel around Germany with other Australian exchange students, and times her host family took her out into rural areas, were among the highlights of her ten weeks away.
Germany is famous for the quality of its bread and Matilda recalls being told the bread was only allowed to have four ingredients and bakeries must employ master bakers.
Matilda celebrated her 18th birthday during her time away, and was delighted the German exchange students she had hosted in Bendigo were invited to the party.
Germany’s Christmas markets were a major highlight and Matilda describes them as “just magical”.
Traditionally, the focus of German Christmas celebrations occur on Christmas Eve, when the Christmas tree is decorated and most people attend church.
An accomplished singer and hoping for a career in musical theatre or opera, Matilda was invited to sing ‘Carol of the Bells’ with two others on Christmas Eve at a local church—which she says was an incredibly special experience. She sang at the school Christmas concert too.
Singing has been important in her life for a long time. Currently taught by Louise Matthews, Matilda has been taking lessons for four years.
She’s also part of ‘Nexus Bendigo Youth Theatre’ and loved her role in the Pirates of Penzance. Presently she is preparing for a two-person short opera.
If you are looking for a knockout gift for Matilda, you will have a hard time beating her 17th birthday present when her mum took her to the opera at the Sydney Opera House.
Later this year Matilda will begin auditioning for various colleges and academies as she begins her own pathway into a musical career.
Meanwhile, settling back into life in Bendigo was made all the more interesting because her family moved house while she was away. Matilda came home to a new address and new bedroom.
“I woke up that first morning and for a second didn’t know where I was. Not only was everything new and different, it was also bright and warm—a stark contrast to the dark, cold mornings of a German winter.”
She says one of the best things about coming home was the Aussie sunshine.
Getting to know her Year 12 teachers and catching up on a couple of weeks of work she missed has kept her busy, but Matilda’s positive experience of BSSC, gives her confidence she will really enjoy Year 12.
“I’ve had fantastic teachers and loved my Year 11 subjects. I completed 3/4 Psychology last year and this year I’m studying English, German, Theatre Studies, and Classical Studies.”
She recommends the college to others and describes it as being like a uni.
“I remember when I first started in Year 11, I found everyone very friendly and open, and I loved meeting people from the other schools. Because of the huge population, everyone can find friends here.”
Matilda’s study routines work well for her—cue cards in subjects like Classical Studies, working with others when learning lines for Theatre Studies, and Quizlet flash cards when she’s studying German.
“I’ve also tried the Pomodoro Method—25 minutes study then a short break—and found it works best for me when I’m studying for exams.”
Stress can be an issue and making lists has been a handy way Matilda keeps things in perspective and plots pathways through what has to be done.
“Actually, just doing the thing that’s causing the stress, is the best method for dealing with it,” she laughs.
Singing is as much a hobby as a career, and she also enjoys reading and painting—especially making cards—cooking, and relaxing with a movie or TV series.
Her favourite movies are Pride & Prejudice and Coraline and she greatly admires Broadway star, Kristin Chenowyth.
All the great positives in Matilda’s life do not obliterate the concerns she shares with many young people about Climate Change. She attended a few protests when she was younger, but has not had time to get more involved due to VCE.
If she could go back and give her younger self some advice, Matilda would say, “You’re doing a decent job, but get off Instagram reels and just enjoy life.”
