St Albans Connect – Alumni Program

An Evening of Inspiration: Achol Arok’s Graduation Speech

What an incredibly inspiring and moving night at the St Albans Secondary College Graduation!  The Class of 2025 received not only their well-deserved congratulations but also a truly memorable address from special guest, alumna Achol Arok. Achol, a member of the 2018 VCE graduating class, shared her journey since leaving the college, offering a powerful message of ambition and self-determination to the graduating students.

Achol, who recently celebrated her 25th birthday, openly shared the immense pressure she felt in Year 12 to choose a lifelong career, and how it was that she stumbled upon journalism during a moment of panic in the careers counselling office. This decision led her to study a Bachelor of Media and Communications with a major in Journalism at La Trobe University.

Achol’s path was far from easy. Facing parental fears, isolation, racism, sexism, and ageism, her triumph came from a crucial decision: to take the risk rather than letting those fears and barriers dictate her career. She channelled her fear into ambition, passion, and focus. This determination led to significant achievements, including:

  • An internship and later a junior producer role at the ABC.
  • A year-long traineeship at SBS in Sydney.
  • Her current role as a reporter at The Daily Aus, a fast-growing youth media service.
  • Interviewing the Prime Minister and winning an award for her reporting on the media’s impact on African Australian communities.

The most important takeaway for the graduating class was Achol’s powerful central message: what comes next is entirely up to you.

She urged students to also channel their fear into ambition, passion, and focus. This, she stressed, is what will guide them to places they never imagined. While acknowledging that no one expects them to have everything figured out yet, her core advice was to try hard, be proactive, and make something of this one life you are given. She concluded with a motivational quote:

“To get something you’ve never had, you need to do something you’ve never done.”

Achol’s speech was a compelling reminder that hard work and determination matter most, and that seeing life barriers as character-building experiences unlocks new potential. We extend our deepest thanks and praise to Achol Arok for returning to St Albans Secondary College to share her remarkable journey and wisdom!

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For any questions, suggestions, or if you need assistance, please feel free to reach out:

 

Ms Nicole Gurd – Alumni Program Leader

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