From Year 9
On Wednesday 15th October, the Year 9 cohort at St Aloysius College came together for their annual Reflection Day, a day designed to deepen students’ understanding of the Mercy values of respect, justice, and courage. With the theme “Respect, Resilience and Hope,” the day offered a rich tapestry of experiences that encouraged students to reflect, connect, and grow.
Held on campus, the day began with a powerful keynote presentation by guest speaker Eric Agyeman, whose story of transformation, from a troubled youth to African Australian of the Year, captivated students and staff alike. Eric’s message of hope and personal growth resonated deeply with students. One student (Harrison Brink) reflected, “Eric's strong story shaped his whole speech with us feeling for him and making us realise some life decisions we may have done that really could have impacted someone.”
Following the keynote, students participated in two workshop rotations: the “I Belong” workshop and the “Mercy in Action” session. These workshops, delivered in pastoral groups, explored themes of inclusion, language, and social responsibility. Many of the students appreciated the opportunity to learn about charitable initiatives and reflect on their own values through their Mercy in Action session. The “I Belong” workshop was praised for its interactivity and emotional depth, with many students reflecting their gratitude for having the opportunity to explore how negative words and actions have the power to diminish people whilst positive ones can be uplifting.
After lunch, students reconvened for a Q&A session with Eric, which proved to be a highlight for many. Students appreciated the chance to ask personal questions and delve deeper into Eric’s experiences. “It was interesting and fun to know about Eric's opinions and point of views,” shared one student (Elliot Travers).
The day concluded with a liturgy delivered, offering a quiet space for spiritual reflection and the opportunity to pause and contemplate the day’s lessons.
Across the board, student feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Many described the day as “very effective” in helping them reflect on their actions and understand the importance of resilience, hope and faith. One student (Milly-Rose Aldis) summed it up beautifully: “Reflection Day helped me reflect on my actions because the way that Eric made his speech, and his messages were so heartfelt and relatable.”
St Aloysius College is proud to offer such formative experiences that nurture the hearts and minds of its students. Year 9 Reflection Day 2025 will be remembered not just for its inspiring speaker, but for the meaningful conversations and personal growth it sparked among our Year 9s.
Marie-Claire Anastasiadis
Religious Education Learning Leader
I would like to say a big thank you to the students for attending and to our parents and carers for encouraging attendance. Eric Agyeman delivered an incredible program for the day. I commend every Year 9 student for their participation and engagement; I am incredibly proud of the cohort as they continue to grow and flourish as individuals within our St Aloysius College community.
Emma Turner
Year 9 Year Leader
On Year 9 Reflection Day, Eric Agyeman came to our school to give some speeches and run workshops with our classes. In the morning, Eric gave a long talk about his family, his story and how he got to where he is today. Listening to Eric's story was very emotional and inspiring, I could see that many people across the cohort were impacted by what he said, and people were talking about it all morning. After recess, Eric ran an interactive workshop with the year 9 classes, talking about offensive language and how deeply it impacts people. Many of the things he spoke about during this workshop were things that I, as well as many of the other students, could deeply connect with. I could see that many people were getting emotional and vulnerable during this period, and this was personally my favourite part of the day. At the end of the day, Eric ran a Q and A, where people wrote him questions on pieces of paper and he read them out loud and answered them in front of everyone, as well as answering some questions on the spot with students in the audience. Me and my friends made artwork and handwritten letters to Eric and gave them to him at the end of the day; to show him how much he impacted us. I also saw many students sharing their personal stories with Eric at the end of the day, showing him how much he impacted them and how they felt safe to open up to him. He was so sweet, and he gave out wristbands and took photos with students. I have never seen a speaker impact our school the way that Eric did and we are forever grateful to have met him and listened to his stories.
Elena McCarthy, 9A
On Wednesday, the year 9s participated in our Reflection Day. We were very lucky to have the presence of Eric Agyeman to talk about his story. His story from being a teenage gang member to a very successful person becoming the Best African Australian in 2022. He had a very strong and confronting story, but he spoke with great courage and positivity which made us learn lots and feel sorrow for him. I really enjoyed the day and hope we can have him back in the future with different workshops he may offer.
Harrison Brink, 9B
On reflection day, we had the chance to have Eric Agyeman come present a speech to us as well as run a workshop. We also worked on Mercy in Action with our Coaches. This day gave us a proper chance to reflect and grow as a year level and make new memories.
Sebastien Hall, 9B
I found this day to be very inspiring, especially Eric Agyeman. Reflection day changed how I look at forgiveness and reflection. I learned that someone's past doesn't determine their future. I'm very thankful to have experienced reflection day.
Jake Rudij, 9F
I found reflection day helpful as it was a way to reflect on what is important to us and if we need help. On reflection day we had the great opportunity to have Eric Agyeman at our College. We are all so glad that he delivered his presentation very carefully and enjoyably.
Remaz Mohamed, 9A