Radio Journalist
CBSHS 2009-2010
Aroha
currently works as a radio journalist for Southern Cross Austereo writing and producing
bulletins for transmission on Triple M in central Queensland. She has previously worked as a journalist for
the Brisbane Times and Courier Mail as well as presenting a radio show on
4ZZZ. Aroha holds a Bachelor’s Degree in
Journalism and Arts (Political Science) from The University of Queensland. After leaving school joined she joined the Australian
Army as an Officer Cadet and has also travelled overseas working in a variety
of different roles.
Aroha
attended CBSHS from the second half of Year 11 through to graduation at the end
of 2010. Growing up Aroha attended over
twenty schools so after arriving at CBSHS she knew she had an uphill struggle
to get her senior certificate.
Quickly
realising she didn’t have the right subjects lining up across her senior years
to gain the points she needed and feeling motivated she overloaded on classes and
worked closely with staff to ensure she walked away with both a strong OP and her
senior certificate. The experience taught her to work hard for what you want in
life and that nothing is concrete until you’ve given it your all. This type of
tenacity, perseverance, and hard work is what got her into the military,
working in top restaurants and bars in the UK, and eventually into broadcast
media.
The
most important thing that she took away from her time at CBSHS was the message
that you need to follow the beat of your own drum. Her senior advisor was one
of the kindest and most inspirational women she had ever met. She always had time for anyone and taught Aroha
the importance of going after what you want in life. Aroha says it’s important
to be ready to be challenged both in class and out and keep your eyes open to
every single lesson that’s coming your way.
In her
senior year she took part in shave for a cure (for Australian Cancer Research),
something that she would never have had the courage to do before attending
CBSHS. However, strength and courage gained from her teachers and peers helped her
break down barriers in her own mind and create a change in the world that had
previously been unreachable to her.
She
credits one of our current teachers – Dan Teh and his OP Drama class for
teaching her the most during her time at CBSHS. Aroha says like many teenage
girls she was quite up-tight, shy, and had self-esteem issues in high-school. Aroha says Mr Teh’s class taught her to let
go of that anxiety, throw fancy to the wind, and just unashamedly be herself, a
rule she strongly lives by to this day.
Her
best memory from CBSHS would definitely be the senior biology camp, where she
had the chance to really get to know her peers, have a little fun and push
herself outside of her comfort zone. It
was also an opportunity to make solid friendships through a shared experience.
If
Aroha had her time at school again she says she would be kinder, to both
herself and her fellow students. She
says she was so determined to make it out the other side with the best skillset
possible that she often let the stress get to her. At the end of the day the
score on paper isn’t what builds you, but your experiences and your heart. “It’s
cheesy, I know, but take the time in high school to really discover who you
are, the rest will fall into place in time”.
Aroha’s
advice to current CBSHS students is to, “stop being so serious, stop pouring
your heart and soul into every little detail of your life, post on social media
less, and get out more. You’re going to look back and laugh at the things you
cried for days over. Everything is going to work out just fine, if you just
learn to breathe a little”.