Anita shared her story with the school for Sophia Mundi's 30-year anniversary celebration. We are re-sharing it here.

Anita Courtney: Class of 2001

Years at Sophia Mundi: 1990 - 2001

Class Teachers: Sue O’Dwyer & John Wright

My Memories

Both Sue and John were fantastic teachers. As a teenager I suffered from depression and John was so supportive of me. On one camp, he carried my backpack (in addition to his own) because I was having difficulty coping.

Sue, who taught our class in primary school, remains one of the most inspiring women I have ever met. I am still friends with the majority of my classmates and remember them all fondly. You never forget people who you spend so much time with.

My favourite times at Sophia Mundi were our school camps. I remember that our group got lost on a couple of them, we got washed out on others and funnily enough, while difficult at the time, these experiences made those camps all the more memorable and special! They were a real laugh.

I also loved the music program. James was a fantastic conductor and and I also sang in a choir conducted by Curtis. They are some of my favourite memories.

Which extra curriculum activities did you enjoy whilst at SMSS? 

Violin. I also played with the Melbourne Youth Music Program on weekends.

What university did you go to and what did you study?

I went to Melbourne University and studied Arts and Law which I completed in 2009. I graduated with first class honours in my law degree, something I don’t think I could have done without my Steiner education. While the Steiner approach didn’t provide me with experience with exams, what it did teach me was the value of commitment. Through hard work and persistence at university, I was able to improve my exam technique such that I graduated 15th out of around 500 students in my year, most of whom had TER scores of over 99.

How has Sophia Mundi contributed to who and where you are now?

I believe that SMSS taught me the value of persistence and dedication through programs such as the music program. I also feel it contributed to my values of justice and fairness as well as my compassion. By supporting me to be an individual, SMSS has encouraged me to stand up for what I think and not be afraid to express my opinions.

I also feel it has made me into a trusting, open person who can get on with anyone. Being in a small class with the same people each year teaches you the ability to have relationships with all types of people.

Is there anything else you would like to share? 

A lot of people have the misconception that SMSS is only good for “creative/arty” people. As a lawyer, I would hardly call myself arty and people are often surprised to hear I went to Steiner. I think it’s important for people to understand that a Steiner education can support you in whatever direction you want to go.