Ask any 16-year-old what the best new-found freedom is,
and everyone will say the same thing:
they're officially legal...
to drive, that is,
and in their minds a perfect age
to drink something a little bit stronger than cordial.
At our age, we are caught in the middle of our youthful innocence
and the scary world that lies
beyond the borders of our school and our family,
with lingering expectations to find our place
not only within what has become a solidified community here at school,
but rather the ever-growing world of economics, politics, and design.
Girls find themselves experimenting and expanding their horizons
by unleashing their most basic human instincts:
satisfaction and exploration.
Some girls choose to satisfy their social appetites
diving into the world of partying and self-expression,
whilst others
explore boundless possibilities to act beyond their years
and to stimulate their minds creatively and academically.
We are fooling ourselves if we don't acknowledge
that every generation goes through this period in life.
When we get old, we don't want to have regrets,
and feel the need to break free from commitments
that apparently tie us down.
A perfect example of this is the film Hall Pass.
For those of you who aren't familiar,
a group of men put their marriages on hold
to experience what they're missing in the singles party scene,
because they regretted not having taken full advantage
of their days as "studs".
In reality, it would be bordering on pathetic
if we were to end up with this kind of attitude.
In saying this,
there are many ways to explore life beyond childhood
and expand our horizons —
opportunities that will leave us with a greater insight
into the part that we will play in our world's future.
I have a personal experience in expanding my horizons.
At the beginning of the year, I took on extra studies
and completed a subject called "Contemporary Issues in Law and Society"
at Bond University.
This involved studying a wide spectrum of topics,
incluiding politics, abortion, euthanasia,
stem cell research and capital punishment.
All topics, many people believe, are beyond my years
of experience and knowledge.
In my tutorial alone, there was a capitalist, a muslim,
an Asian, a European, and a few other interesting individuals,
all ranging from 15 to 55 years of age.
So there was bound to be a great deal of difference in opinion,
and this was explored throughout our 12 weeks.
At university, everyone is given a level playing field,
meaning we all have the ability
to share and manipulate many unique ideas.
I formed independent opinions about topics
that girls my age don't usually consider,
developed critical thinking skills, and learned to effectively
analyze information put forth in lectures and tutes,
as well as improving public speaking skills.,
as I learned to speak freely in front of a diverse group of people.
There are boundless opportunities out there,
within the grasp of young girls.
It's just a matter of having the motivation and initiative
to commit to these.
Whilst partying may be fun and fulfilling,
the abilities to converse and analyze at a university level
can provide enlightenment and pave the way for
a more successful and fulfilling future,
personally and professionally.
So don't limit yourself.
Experience the world outside of your comfort zone,
and take advantage of ideas and opportunities
waiting out there for you.
Because you never know where they may lead you.
Thank you. (Applause)