Introducing our Dux of School

Isabella Caleo

ATAR: 99.9

Congratulations to the Class of the Year-That-Shall-NotBe-Named. Each and every one of you showed immense persistence, resilience and positivity, in circumstances that could have been better. The supportiveness and kindness of our cohort repeatedly astounded me not only last year, but throughout the entirety of my schooling. You all truly deserve every success that comes your way, and I am a better person for having spent time with you.

Over the years at Loreto Toorak, I have tried my hand at the gamut of school activities.

In the Music Department I dabbled in violin, saxophone and choir before landing on the cello and enjoying many morning and afternoon rehearsals in the orchestras.Thesauruscom and I loved preparing our DAV debates to take down the other teams at Scotch, and it soon became an annual tradition for my team to exclaim how we were unforgivably robbed of our rightful place in the finals.

Some of my happiest memories from school have been in the dressing rooms before a show with the overwhelming smell of hairspray and the general kind of frenzy and laughter brought on by nerves and being able to order uber eats into school.

I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all Staff, from Preparatory - Year 12, who have been fundamental in shaping students’ school experience into one which is so incredibly enriching and formative.

A friend once told me that, particularly in VCE, but also in life generally, people are like ducks. They may look calm on the surface, but underneath the water everyone is paddling to keep themselves afloat. With that in mind, try not to think less of yourself, or second guess yourself because you struggle at times or because you look around you and feel like everyone but you has everything under control.

Throughout school and particularly last year, I felt like I didn’t know what I was doing half the time. I, like everyone else, was paddling away just trying to make it work.

I would ask that you approach school, or whatever lies ahead of you in life, passionately and with an enthusiasm for learning. Strive to achieve your very best, but don’t expect perfection from yourself or determine your self-worth based on things like grades or a final score. They are not the sum of a person.

Adapted from Isabella’s address at the Dux Assembly