“Skyline didn’t just support me through VCE. They prepared me for life.”
Abby, Class of 2024 says, “Everything changed the day I joined Skyline. From the moment I arrived at the residential program in 2023, I felt an instant sense of belonging. I knew I could be myself. Those amazing people I met on that first day are still some of my closest friends, three years on.
“Growing up in a single-income household in regional Victoria, I faced more than the usual teenage challenges. Both Mum and I live with chronic medical conditions, and while I always had friends at school, I never truly felt I could be myself. School had limited representation and few resources, and I often felt like an outsider, just acting a version of myself to fit in.”
“I felt alone,” she says.
“Even with friends, I never felt like I could be my true self.”
Skyline’s wraparound support helped Abby flourish during the most crucial years of high school. With a dedicated mentor always available to assist her in navigating stressful moments and a network of peers and alumni who had faced similar challenges, Abby discovered the confidence and the tools to succeed.
“Even when my mentor didn’t have an immediate answer, she’d research and follow up, and I knew she would. That meant everything.”
Abby not only finished her VCE but also achieved outstanding results. She graduated as dux of her school and was the only student to make it onto the VCE honour roll. She was one of just two students from her school to gain entry to the University of Melbourne.
Today, Abby is studying for a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Melbourne, majoring in Indigenous Studies and Ancient World Studies.
With Skyline’s assistance, she gained scholarships that cover her accommodation at St. Hilda’s College, University of Melbourne, opportunities she says would have been entirely out of reach otherwise.
Skyline guided her through financial aid research, college applications, and even life skills workshops on topics such as mindfulness, time management, and job interviews.
Abby is now giving back as a Skyline employee and as an alumni mentor.
“Skyline didn’t just support me through VCE,” she reflects.
“They prepared me for life.”
Abby’s story shows us the power you have to change a future and unlock the potential of students like her.
With only a few days left, and the June 30 deadline fast approaching, we need your help to ensure that academically high-ability students like Abby complete their VCE and achieve their dreams.
Donate Here https://shorturl.at/JcrFb
Every contribution counts, and if donating isn’t possible, sharing the campaign on your social networks is another way to make a difference.
Thank you for supporting the Skyline community and helping fuel the future of students like Abby.
