An education that fosters enduring friendships

Cherry shared her story with the school for Sophia Mundi’s 30-year anniversary celebration in 2015. We are re-sharing it here.

Cherry

I attended Sophia Mundi from prep in 1990 through to the end of year 9 in 1999. 

Memories from my time at Sophia Mundi. 

Our very first school camp at Camp Eureka. I was sharing a tent with Anna, and we were just settling down to sleep when we heard Eugenia scream out from her tent nearby “Sue! There’s a wild boar out there!” Anna and I were a bit scared so we unzipped our sleeping bags and re-zipped them so they formed one double-sized bag for us to cuddle into. We slept soundly and in the morning found out that the wild boar was indeed a Koala! That day we went down to the river and covered our entire bodies in mud, Zac’s mum teaching us about the benefits for our skin. Two very important lessons learned that camp.   

Which activities did you enjoy whilst at SMSS? 

 Music was always a big one for me, along with horse riding. I also enjoyed doing various sports with school friends along the way including basketball, swimming and karate.  

Where are you now and what are you doing? 

I recently finished my PhD in Music Therapy and have started a Post-Doctoral research position at Melbourne University, where I look the role of music in young people’s mental health and recovery from mental illness.  

Prior to that I originally completed a Bachelor degree in music performance at Melbourne University, then came back to Sophia Mundi to teach violin for a couple of years.  

I then completed a Masters in Music Therapy at Melbourne University.  

How has your Sophia Mundi education inspired or influenced your life? 

 At Sophia Mundi I made a collection of life-long friends and I feel incredibly fortunate to have these people in my life. I think the curriculum at Sophia Mundi really fosters these types of enduring relationships because you remain with the same class right through. This teaches you how to grow with people but also shape your individual identity, to work through interpersonal conflicts and value what you contribute to one another’s lives. It’s a life lesson I’m grateful for.  

Any other comments or moments you would like to share?

I have very fond memories of my time at Sophia Mundi. I think the value of music in the curriculum has particularly shaped who I am today and the way I see creativity as integral to individual and societal wellbeing.