Geelong students were recognised for their leadership skills last week with a morning tea organised by Corio MP Richard Marles.
Each year Mr Marles sponsors the Geelong Young Leader of the Year award, with schools in the region each nominating their own leader of the year for the award.
On Monday, Mr Marles hosted the seven finalists at the City of Geelong Bowls Club for a morning tea and announced Kardinia International College student Gemma Hinch as the Geelong Young Leader of the Year.
“It is always a pleasure to meet our young leaders and acknowledge the wonderful contribution they have made to their own community,” Mr Marles said.
“All finalists have experienced disruptive learning throughout the pandemic, yet they see leadership in their community with such positivity.
“Common themes from our young leaders on Geelong were values of courage and compassion, and how they centred their own leadership around looking after others.
“This year’s winner, Gemma Hinch said that she sees ‘perseverance’ as an important value for leaders to have, especially in the face of ongoing and moving challenges.”
Each of the students was required to nominate which skill they felt was the most important as a leader.
“Perseverance is the most valuable characteristic a leader can have,” Gemma said.
“Perseverance is about not giving up and using our mistakes to better ourselves and our leadership.
“It is also having the belief and confidence in yourself to keep going when faced with challenges or criticism.
“Leaders often must make difficult decisions that may not please everyone but help keep our communities safe.
“Perseverance is the ability to be able to stand up when you make a mistake, come back from a failure or disappointment, or just keeping on keeping on.
“No leader is perfect, and we all make mistakes.”
