SEVERAL female stereotypes were shattered at this year’s Love Being a Girl Conference at Aquinas College, Ashmore.
Years 10, 11 and 12 students from across the Gold Coast registered for the unique girls’ conference, which featured workshops and guest speakers who encouraged the young delegates to choose the path to empowerment, boldness, resilience and beauty.
They also helped them realise that the power of their thoughts directly related to their actions and the direction their lives can take.
Aquinas College pastoral leader Toni Bressan said the conference was again successful with both students and staff members.
She said the dynamic presenters and guest speakers, all successful women within their chosen fields, represented the wider Gold Coast community.
“They shared their journeys and experiences with our girls who listened to their every word,” Ms Bressan said.
She said guest speaker Vita Adam’s “The Bold, The Beautiful Project Part 2” gave delegates a clear message about the power of our thoughts and that by surrounding ourselves with positive thoughts and positive people, a remarkable life can be had.
Ms Adam explained about how good mental health was fundamental to a healthy, long life.
Meanwhile the insights of Sophie Hardcastle, a young author who wrote about her experiences with bipolar disorder in her book Running Like China, resonated with the conference audience as she shared her story about coming back from the depths of her illness.
Delegates also enjoyed a forum featuring three young women from different backgrounds – world champion athlete Kobie Donovan, lawyer and policy writer Meaghan Scanlon and mechanical engineer Hannah Busch – who educated the delegates about assertiveness, and reinforced that they were important and valuable people whether they were at school, at work or at home.
“We had the opportunity of asking lots of questions to these three awesome women,” Ms Bressan said.
She said the afternoon was filled with a selection of workshops including making flower crowns; making sweet, healthy treats; self-defence; yoga; mindfulness; and car maintenance for girls.
“All of the workshops were well attended and we all learned something new at them while having fun,” Ms Bressan said.
She said feedback clearly confirmed that female students wanted more of these days and Aquinas College was keen to deliver.
