Katherine resident Lillyana Bowden has embarked on her milestone final year of study at Brisbane’s St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School.
The Year 12 student has lived as a boarder at St Margaret’s for the past four years and said it was hard to believe this would be her last year living and learning amongst the warm and welcoming St Margaret’s community.
“Being a boarder, the girls become like your sisters and the boarding staff like your parents and I know that leaving them will be a tearful day,” said Lillyana.
“Having the chance to live with a group of girls your own age is an amazing experience and I have made many lifetime memories and friends. There is always someone to help you out with school, homesickness or any problem you may have. You meet so many girls from all over the world and learn about their home life and different cultures. And the food in the boarding house is amazing.”
For Lillyana, boarding at St Margaret’s has provided plenty of choices and opportunities to challenge herself both in and out of the classroom.
She says she has developed her independence, an appreciation and respect for others and self- discipline.
“Boarding has offered me so much including the chance to meet girls from all over the world, access to incredible sporting facilities, and with that, the option to join in sports I couldn’t do at home like gymnastics.
“International travel to study in South Africa on global exchange, living in a city, learning how to use its public transport and opportunities to attend live shows have also been incredible opportunities,” she said.
Boarders are renowned for embracing sporting opportunities and aside from artistic gymnastics, Lillyana has played touch football, netball, badminton, waterpolo and made the athletics team every year since she arrived.
Embracing the many extracurricular opportunities available at St Margaret’s, Lillyana also appeared in the last two school musicals, Annie and The Sound of Music.
Her advice to othersis, “Everything revolves around your attitude and how you approach it.”
