Lessons Beyond the Green Gate – Olivia Boyages (2012)

Last Friday, we were delighted to welcome back Old Girl Olivia BOYAGES (2012) as our guest speaker at the P&F Years 7 & 8 Parent-Daughter Breakfast, with journalist, and current parent, Tony Squires as our MC.

Olivia has had an incredible journey since leaving SCEGGS – completing a double degree in Law and Arts at UNSW, working as a litigation lawyer at Gilchrist Connell, and even spending a year at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

Olivia reflected on lessons she learned at SCEGGS and how they have continued to carry her through life beyond school:

• Persist through change (even when it’s very hard) – whether it was adjusting to university, surviving a wobbly graduate year, or starting Year 7 as a new student at SCEGGS (and navigating an oversized uniform), Olivia reminded us that “change is uncomfortable, but sticking with it is worth it.”
• Be the busy person – Olivia shared some advice she received at SCEGGS: “If you want something done, give it to the busy person. Be the busy person!” It’s a principle she carries with her today as she balances her legal career, love of languages (she speaks six!), and life as a mum to a one-year-old. “Busy people get it done!”
• Trust your instincts (even if it might not be whatever everyone else is doing or expects) – whether it was choosing Greek school over Saturday sport  in high school to balancing work and parenthood and living in a way now where she prioritises what is important for her, what matters is trusting her own judgement, following her own path, and being confident in her own decisions.

Her passion for justice and community were evident as she spoke about giving back through her work supporting women and refugees, her fundraising treks through the Northern Territory, and her commitment to outreach programs with the elderly.

Olivia was an inspiring example to our current SCEGGS girls (and parents!).

Julia Hasche
Communications Co-ordinator