Name: Mallory Flavell
Middle Campus: Penshurst Girls Campus
Graduating year: 2007
Where are you working now and in what role?
Full Time Teacher at GRC Oatley Senior Campus
What do you love about your job?
Great Teachers have a profound effect on their community and the individuals that leave our school will go on to enrich it with their quality education. I’m fortunate to see students on the cusp of the thirteen years education, readying themselves for the future. To see their growth and autonomy over seven terms provides me with satisfaction, to know that our synergy culminates in their opportunities beyond their schooling is but one of the many instances that strengthens my love for this profession.
Did anyone at GRC inspire you to follow your chosen career path?
Mrs Karen Vitale was my Ancient History Teacher. As a Historian, her expert knowledge and delivery ensured that every lesson was engaging, filled with rich storytelling and learning opportunities. She was my first choice of HSC Mentor in 2007, supporting me through my final year of school and encouraged me to pursue tertiary study. I am the first in my family to graduate a tertiary institution and I credit the education she offered me at GRC Oatley as playing a pivotal role in my success. From 2012 onwards, her mentoring continued but this time as a colleague.
In Year 8 and right through to Year 10, Mrs Nerida Broady, my English Teacher at GRC Penshurst Girls sparked my love for literature. She nurtured my love of reading and fluency in English, crucial in sustaining my lifelong love of learning. With English as an additional language and dialect, she provided me the means to navigate the world with confidence and clarity.
Lo and behold, I too am a History and English Teacher, thanks to the quality education I have received from GRC. I love this profession and perceive it as my means of bettering society.
Did you have many challenges to get to where you are now?
Often at times, coming from both a low SES background and minority background, I felt that my career aspirations were at odds with the experienced of my household. Again, as the first of my family to go to University, the knowledge to navigate such an institution was daunting. My firm resolve to pursue tertiary education, bolstered by the education I have received at GRC, plus my drive to complete such a high level of learning lead to my success.
Do you have any advice for our current students?
Your autonomy and drive will be your greatest asset. Your teachers and our college are all here to champion your success. Use every tool available and pursue a career that will fill you with great satisfaction.
Do you have a favourite memory of your time at GRC?
It is hard to quantify seven terms of great memories at Oatley for there were many:
The wide array of choices at GRC Oatley meant that my subjects were ones I’d selected and loved - in English I read the heart wrenching novel “The Kite Runner”, in Ancient History The Persian Wars gripped our class, in Society and Culture we were able to develop skills to research our Personal Interest Project - so learning brought such great satisfaction.
The co-curricular opportunities: grade sport on Wednesdays, volunteering opportunities, the Year 12 “mystery trip” to Jamberoo, UOW Discovery Day, Sports Carnivals, Roll-over Week, HSC Success Workshops, Lunch time concerts around the circular stairs.
Above all, that I was able to perform in Maori at my graduation was the highest honour.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
The Teachers at this college remain amongst the most dedicated and passionate colleagues I have worked with. Their time, dedication and effort is for the better of the students in this college and adds such a rich narrative of learning across all 4 campuses.