How a scholarship has changed the life of a girl from Wagga Wagga

Ally Spain enjoyed life at her local high school in Wagga Wagga but after a few years she knew it was time to move on.

Ally had clear ideas of what she wanted to achieve. She knew she wanted to follow the International Baccalaureate program and she also wanted to study law and political science – and these weren’t on offer at her local high school.

So, Ally, 16 and her parents began exploring interstate schools and scholarship opportunities. The internet and then a schools and scholarship expo in Wagga Wagga eventually led the family to Methodist Ladies College in Melbourne.

This year, Ally joined year 10 and became a boarder at MLC. Her scholarship helps cover her academic and boarding fees and is particularly directed towards supporting girls from regional and country areas.

“My dad went to boarding school and loved it and I was born in Melbourne and have always loved visiting the city, so I was very happy to come here. MLC was my first choice because it had a bigger subject range and the IB program and I liked MLC’s boarding system, too,” says Ally.

Ally’s scholarship application began with a 200-word written report about why she wanted to go to MLC.

“I wrote about wanting opportunities I didn’t have at home. It took me quite a while to write and condense why I thought MLC would be a good place for me,” she says.

Following her written application, Ally and her parents took part in a Skype interview with the head and deputy head of boarding at the school.

“My parents were with me for the first part of the interview and then it was just me,” says Ally.

“I was asked about my favourite subjects at school and what I wanted to do after school. I explained that I wanted to go to university and study law and political science with a view to becoming a diplomat.

“I remember one question took me by surprise. They asked me what sort of animal I was most like. I said an orangutan because they are curious, like to explore and often leave their home but always remember their family. It was an unusual question and an unusual answer!”

A few months later, Ally’s parents received a letter from MLC offering her a scholarship.

“When my parents told me, I was so happy and excited. But I love my family and being at home and it did hit me that now I would be going away for school,” she says.

“The first month was difficult because I was quite homesick but I knew that would pass and the girls in my house were lovely. I made friends that I will have forever.”

Next year Ally will start the International Baccalaureate program, she’s joined the debating team and she is enjoying the drama program, too.

“I have been part of the Model UN program where we recreate the assembly of the United Nations, are given a country to represent and then have a problem to sort out. I’ve also enjoyed being in our boarding house play and we’ve had boarding socials so I’ve got to know people from other schools. I would never have had these opportunities in Wagga,” says Ally.

“Next year there are biology tours to Thailand and to the Great Barrier Reef and I am interested in those. I am so glad I’m here and I feel very grateful because I have opportunities I wouldn’t get elsewhere. I probably wouldn’t be here at MLC without the scholarship – it has changed my life.”