Meet Paige | Year 10

Beginning her Fintona journey at just three years of age in the Early Learning Centre, Paige fondly remembers her excitement for starting school, ‘I was very eager… I had my uniform ready and I was wearing it three weeks in advance.

Every single day was energetic, I would always be excited about school and what was coming up.’

And after 13 years of learning at Fintona, Paige says that energy is still a big part of her school experience.

‘It’s a very close community and a very lively one. Everyone is so engaged and happy to be here.

Everyone is running the fastest they can in a race. Everyone is putting their hands up to answer a question in class. Everyone has their opinion and they’re willing to voice it, and it makes me feel comfortable to do that as well.

There are heaps and heaps of opportunities [at Fintona] and over the past 13 years I’ve tried pretty much all of them. I’ve found the things that I feel comfortable with, and I’ve found things I’ve tried, and now know it’s not my thing.’

In addition to providing more opportunities to participate in co-curricular activities, Paige believes Fintona’s size has benefited her personal learning style,

‘I get a lot of one-on-one time with my teachers. They search and search for ways to help me learn in the best way possible. In the time that we have in class, I’m able to ask a million questions and they’re all answered in great detail.

Everybody learns differently and having that opportunity with Fintona teachers has really benefited me.’

Alongside her core subjects, in Year 10 Paige has studied Music, Fashion Design, Ancient Rome, International Politics, Drama, Business Accounting, China Rising and Photography.

‘I go into any subject happy and come out learning something new. I adore Fashion [Design]. I have all of these thoughts in my head and sometimes just talking about them isn’t enough. I love seeing colour and artworks and performance and movement. That’s my personal way to show who I am as a person.

All of the things that I really enjoy now, I discovered by just giving them a go. Fintona says, “Here’s everything, choose”; you can choose as many or as little as you like, and I chose pretty much everything.

I come to school every day really happy… happy with where I am, who is around me and what I have to do.’