Growth can look different for every student. For one Senior School student, Irelynn, her growth through the Middle Years at VSV were defined by the courage to find her voice. Supported by a strong advocate in her mum and a team of dedicated staff, Irelynn has transformed her relationship with learning and with herself.
Like many students who come to VSV, Irelynn’s earlier experiences in more traditional settings had been challenging. When she first joined in Year 8, online learning felt unfamiliar, and Irelynn approached support meetings with understandable apprehension. In those early conversations, Irelynn’s mum, Jasmine, often spoke on her behalf while she listened quietly.
Over time, that dynamic began to shift. Though the amount of behind-the-scenes work involved to practise social and emotional skills is not to be underestimated. And for Irelynn, whose prior experiences had informed her apprehension about her engagement in school and her studies, VSV gave her a space to redevelop her engagement in learning and make time and space for those personal development skills to blossom. With the encouragement of staff and Jasmine’s consistent support, Irelynn gradually stepped forward in support meetings.
Irelynn now takes an active role in shaping her own learning and future. She prepares thoughtfully, speaks with clarity and confidence, and approaches opportunities with a maturity beyond her years. Jasmine says that Irelynn has always been thoughtful and capable of original thinking, though she once found it difficult to verbalise her ideas. Now, she uses her voice with assurance.
Irelynn’s growth has been shaped not only by the support around her, but also by a strong sense of determination within. She has learned to trust her instincts—what her Inclusion case worker, Kristy Wood, describes as her “internal fire”—rather than waiting for opportunities to come to her. Along the way, Irelynn has also developed strong leadership skills. These are the skills and qualities that have seen her recently recognised beyond the school community, nominated for two youth awards.
The initiative that garnered attention of the 7NEWS Young Achiever Awards was born from feelings of isolation from an alternative school pathway. Irelynn established a weekly leadership group for teen girls collective, connecting through themed events and consistently showing up, and engaging in social spaces in the greater Geelong region. In this way, Irelynn created community for herself and others who might be experiencing similar.
A recent 48-hour media challenge that Irelynn entered further cemented her ability to “just go for it”. Although she knew her work would be seen and judged independently, the support of her teachers, Belinda Jennings and Emma Storer, played an integral role throughout the experience. Their encouragement helped sustain her confidence and morale, particularly during the more stressful moments of the competition.
Speaking with Irelynn and Jasmine is a pleasure. They bounce easily off each other’s thoughts, with a respect that clearly stems from deep trust.
When asked what it has been like to step back from being Irelynn’s primary advocate, Jasmine first speaks of how proud she is of Irelynn’s growth. As Irelynn is participating in the pilot Victorian Pathways Certificate (VPC) program—an opportunity to complete senior secondary studies over three years—Jasmine reflects that her role has evolved rather than diminished.
Jasmine continues to provide an important sense of steadiness in Irelynn’s life. With big dreams and a bright future ahead of her, Jasmine remains committed to supporting Irelynn, gently reminding her how she manages moments of overwhelm and pressure. It is the voice of experience: a wise sounding board encouraging her not to take on more than she can reasonably carry.
For Jasmine, Irelynn’s growth has been profound to witness — seeing her child not only find her voice but use it with purpose. The student who once approached school with uncertainty is now stepping forward with confidence, ready to take her place in the world.
Looking back on her middle years of schooling, Irelynn reflects that she is ultimately inspired by the idea of growth because of the opportunities it creates. She quips that her 13-year-old self could never have imagined how far she would come and might otherwise have remained closed off from the world in her bedroom, “missing out on the world.”
Irelynn’s story reflects what growth can truly look like: not only developing skills and confidence, but learning to advocate for oneself, embrace opportunities and move forward with optimism and a zest for life.
Supporting your child to complete the Attitudes to School Survey is one way we can better understand what helps our middle years students grow and thrive. Take the survey. Students are reminded to refer to the ‘2026 AtoSS’ email that included their unique survey student ID and log-in information. (These are different to VSV log-in credentials.) Please contact your Learning Advisor if you have any questions.