Rotary Motto - Service above Self

This motto has shaped a large part of my leadership values. Whilst I was creating this portfolio, I thought it would be amiss to not reflect on what 'Service above Self' means to me. To me, this means being an empathetic leader - one who primarily leads with the interests of her team and the larger community. I believe that leader who embodies these values are selfless and they recognise that being a leader is not about 'managing' a team, it is about empowering their team to take charge of their own paths. As a leader, I believe that my commitment to my team is of utmost importance, and it is my responsibility to create an environment where my team or community feels empowered, creative and brave. In turn, this will create a high functioning team of people who are committed to the same cause and work together to create positive outcomes for all stakeholders. In the end, it is the service that you provide as a leader over any personal interests.

Rotary Youth Project Alumni (RYPA)

As the founding Chair of RYPA, I laid the foundation for the success the group is today. I began with one goal - keep people engaged. I did this by creating an inclusive space, where motivation towards a shared goal was the priority. During my tenure, I embodied a leader who is committed to the cause - indeed, a leader that values service over self, the fundamental core of a servant leader, and more importantly, a Rotarian. This resulted in highly successful humanitarian initiatives, and a strong, committed group of young leaders. 

RYPA was created in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic as a project to promote humanitarianism to young people in Wyndham. Most members of RYPA were previously involved in a youth program delivered by the Rotary Club of Hoppers Crossing. When it was introduced to us, there was no clear structure as to how we would run this project. It was just an idea. In fact, there was no foundation as it was a first of its kind. It was therefore important for me to remain flexible and adaptive to reflect the interests of the group. 

After some brief frustration as to the lack of structure, I took the initiative to Chair the first ever committee. This made me the inaugural leader. As part of this role, I set up a system to communicate with outsiders through an official RYPA email and created a RYPA Facebook page. The most important starting point was creating a central communication point. From here, I was able to host meetings over Zoom to talk to other RYPA members.

Our first humanitarian project was the 2022 Trivia Night. As a team, we collectively decided that we were going to fundraise to support the SHARM foundation, an organisation committed to rebuilding schools in Vanuatu after cyclone Pam so that children can gain access to an education. I spent a lot of time coordinating the marketing efforts on this fundraiser and liaising with the foundation to ensure that we were meeting their needs too. I also assisted with event management, as I had some experience with this from my time on the law society as competitions director. My leadership during my first year on RYPA shaped the foundations of which I led teams in the future - particularly during my time as DLSSG President. 

Today, RYPA is a thriving project. Since our first project in 2022, we have had annual fundraiser events for different charities including the following:

It appears that RYPA has naturally developed into a social and humanitarian group, where there are ample opportunities to make connections with other young people who are passionate about the same cause. I continue to be a very active member in their projects. I even volunteered to create and host the 2024 trivia night! RYPA continues to be ran by an extremely capable group of young people, and I am grateful to see that my administrative processes and social impact left a lasting impact on the group, which brings me comfort in knowing that there is sustainability beyond my tenure. In addition to being an independent subgroup of the Rotary Club of Hoppers Crossing, RYPA has also gotten involved in other Rotary initiatives, such as:

Final Reflections & Legacy

The most important leadership lesson from this experience came just after my term was over. Leadership is about empowering ownership and independence of all of those around you. When I took a step back and saw what RYPA has become, I realised that I had built something that can continue to thrive without me, take a backseat and watch other leaders thrive with the support I have provided them. 

Wyndham Youth Public Speaking Competition (WynSpeak)

My five-year journey as a competitor in Wynspeak transformed me from a nervous high school student to a confident leader committed to mentoring the next generation. This competition shaped me beyond my public speaking skills - it shaped the foundations of my leadership skills, such as my confidence, resilience, and understanding of what it means to give back. I discovered that I can do hard things, and I am committed to passing down this lived experience to future public speakers. 

I first got involved in Wynspeak as a competitor in 2015. Earlier that year, my school principal hosted the annual Principal's Public Speaking Competition and I had just won first place. When the opportunity for me to present at Wynspeak came up, my principal approached me to ask if I was interested. Despite feeling uncertain and timid, I accepted her challenge. 

As a five time finalist, and three-time runners up, I overcame my fear of public speaking through consistency and practice. I experienced first-hand how valuable refined public speaking skills are - it has helped me in interview preparations, panel events and presentations. I would not be half the public speaker I am today without this competition. 

Today, I have given back to this competition by using my lived experience to mentor up-and-coming public speakers. I empathised with the student participants in this competition, remembering my own anxiety at a mere 12 years old. In response, I conducted a public speaking workshop for secondary school students to promote the program and build public speaking skills. This workshop was designed to provide support for new public speakers - ensuring that they are equipped with the skills to tackle this challenge. There was a turnout of over 60 students, and despite being over Zoom, it was a highly engaging event. I have attached a recording of the workshop below for your viewing.

Next year, I am aiming to Chair the Wynspeak committee. I believe that my lived experience as a competitor, emcee and adjudicator will be invaluable skills as part of the organising committee. It is my goal to share my advice, tips and support students to overcome their fear of public speaking, and build on these skills. 12 year old me wishes she had that kind of support - and I hope to be exactly who these students are looking to for guidance if they need it.

At 12 years old, public speaking was a mere dream, yet, today, I am committed to helping secondary school students find their voice in a world that unknowingly silences them. By leaving this legacy behind, I hope to inspire the next generation of young secondary school students to believe in their potential the way I learned to believe in myself. I hope to show them that leadership is about doing hard things and taking those risks - because if I can do it, anyone can.  

Note: Above, I have embedded two videos. They are quite lengthy - but if you are interested in the work I do in Rotary, these videos are a great insight into the Wynspeak community and impact on young people.