When Denise McCarthy was told she had been chosen as GVGS School Captain for 2024, she knew this was her biggest opportunity yet to give back to the school community that has given her so much since commencing in Year 5 in 2017. 鈥�
鈥淚 was inspired to apply for the role by the past school leaders who鈥檝e had such an impact on me during my time at GVGS. I鈥檝e seen what they鈥檝e been able to achieve during their time as School Captains, such as making younger students feel valued and being able to influence change to make people feel more included,鈥� she says.
鈥淥ver the next 12 months I鈥檓 looking forward to getting to know more people around the School. A goal of mine is to mix the year levels and help everyone to get to know each other better. The year levels are already very bonded between themselves and I want to expand that and make it so that each year level can have that same connection with students in year levels above and below.鈥�
Along with her senior student leadership role, Denise is focused on making her final year of high school as academically successful as possible, starting on the front foot by fast-tracking Indonesian Studies in 2023.
鈥淥lder students who had already fast-tracked said it was a good move to make and I also wanted to learn more about the country because Indonesia is one of our closest neighbours,鈥� she says. .
鈥淚 like having another language under my belt and a lot of what I have learnt in Indonesian studies is relevant to other classes I鈥檓 taking this year, such as global politics and legal studies. I enjoy learning about how the world works, what systems are in place internationally and if they are working or not.鈥�
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Denise is looking forward to making the most of 2024 in collaboration with her School Captain counterpart, Felix Dom. 鈥淲e鈥檝e both been at GVGS since Year 5 and we know each other so well,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 think we鈥檙e going to work together really well.鈥�
Next year, Denise plans to pursue her studies in Law and Commerce but is unsure which university she will attend.
鈥淏oth of my parents are from Ireland and I would love to do university exchange over there at some stage,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t would be a dream come true to study overseas and stay with my extended family for a semester.鈥�
Denise is joined this year at GVGS by her younger siblings Gerry (Year 10), Patrick (Year 8) and Kate (Year 5).