The Power of Believing in Yourself

I went to JIS from 2010 to 2015; I was at the PIE campus and the Middle School. I started at PIE in Grade 1 and left during my first year of Middle School. 

JIS was definitely a [defining] moment in my life, especially in teaching me important life lessons such as resilience and determination. I will admit that when I was a kid, I was not a natural athlete. I was a terrible runner, and if you had said to me and my family I was going to be representing Australia in fencing at the highest level, I would have laughed. But I learned resilience from my PE teacher in Grade 3 from the 1-mile runs. I loathed them because I thought I was not an “athletic” person, but they made me realize that it’s just a matter of mind over matter. I learned to push myself, and the encouragement to finish those laps helped me learn that self-belief is a necessity in life. And I then started to get into running and started to love sport — and I have never looked back since. It also taught me to take risks and back myself.

My favorite memories are definitely the PIE and PEL school musicals, including the Alice in Wonderland production and The Wizard of Oz. I look back at those photos and memories and have the biggest smile on my face, and it definitely surprises my friends to learn I was a feature dancer when I’m not a great dancer nowadays. The students vs. teachers Dodgeball game is definitely a favorite memory of mine.

The first advice I would give JIS students is to never take the small moments for granted; sometimes those moments are the best memories of your life. I learned that if you’re uncomfortable while doing something new, it means you’re learning. The first time you learn to do anything, you’re afraid you’re going to make a mistake — but we learn. Some of my major achievements and lessons in sports have been when I felt uncomfortable, but I came back with so many lessons. Finally, and probably the most important of all, is not to be afraid to take that leap of faith. Put yourself out there for new adventures and experiences, and be yourself all the time.