Expanding horizons

Lucy Edwards relishes the opportunities that boarding at St Margaret’s in Brisbane has opened up for her.

FIVE YEARS AGO, Lucy Edwards moved from the country to experience life in the city at Brisbane’s St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School.

“My parents wanted me to attend boarding school in Brisbane so that I could expand my horizons and make connections for the future, and I’ve had many opportunities to do just that,” Lucy says.

A Toowoomba local, Lucy has really valued the opportunities she’s had living and studying in the city.

“St Margaret’s boarding staff organise so many experiences for us to explore the city on weekends. One of my favourite places to visit is South Bank, but I’ve also really enjoyed attending the rugby matches at Suncorp Stadium or dining out at Eat Street Northshore. I’ve really gained an appreciation for life outside of my hometown,” Lucy says.

“I also really value the school-based opportunities that have allowed me to further explore my passions, such as attending a physics lecture at Churchie and hearing from a keynote speaker in the field, or entering the Titration Competition to conduct an experiment in a laboratory at a local university. St Margaret’s annual Science Week is always something I look forward to as well.”

Lucy now has a new opportunity to look forward to: leading her peers in the boarding house as the 2023 Boarding Captain alongside fellow boarder Hadassah Todd.

“Becoming joint Boarding Captain at St Margaret’s is an absolute honour and I feel very privileged to be given the responsibility. Since Year 7, I have imagined leading the boarding house and now I cannot wait to embrace the opportunity to further develop my leadership skills and contribute my own leadership ideas to the boarding community,” Lucy says.

“What I love most about boarding at St Margaret’s is the diverse community made up of girls from all different backgrounds and cultures. I’ve really appreciated getting to know each girl and learning about their experiences, and, as a leader, I plan to continue to look for ways to nurture the inclusivity of our boarding family.”

As for the future, Lucy aspires to work in the medical engineering field, producing medical aids such as prosthetic hands and pacemakers to change people’s lives.

Lucy first discovered her love of engineering while studying a dedicated STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subject when she was in Year 9.

“One of our projects involved designing and building a 3D-printed prosthetic hand. It was a definite highlight for me and it was when I first discovered my fascination with developing medical equipment that can improve health care and medical services.”

Visit stmargarets.qld.edu.au for details of future open days and applications for boarding.