Change one person, change the world.
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That’s the motto of Emily Sole, who has just won one of eight Dame Marie Bashir Peace Prizes.
The New England Girls’ School student has travelled the world, volunteering in Alice Springs with Indigenous students – to orphanages in Fiji and Thailand.
“I knew I wanted to help others, that’s always been my driving force,” Emily said.
“So I try to put that above any of my other priorities, and you work it in.”
A Year 12 student, Emily wants to work as a psychologist when she finishes her Higher School Certificate.
Close friends of hers have had mental health problems, an experience that has inspired Emily to want to help.
“You could write an amazing book or be amazing at a sport, but those are things that fade as history goes on,” Emily said.
“But, if you help an individual I feel that’s a more meaningful way to go about your life.
“I always knew that I wanted to do a job where I could help others, not a self-serving job, but one where I can feel like I’m actually contributing to other people’s lives.”
The Dame Marie Bashir Peace Prize is awarded to a student who has shown leadership in creating social justice and harmony in their schools.
Outside of her international volunteer work, here in Armidale Emily has written a slam poetry poem about disability that won first in her category at the Armidale Eisteddfod.
Hope Hour, a pastoral care meet-up for girls is another of her projects.
And, she does it all while facing the challenges of high school.
Recognition that what she does helps people isn’t why she does it, Emily said.
“You’ve always got those stories of an amazing individual who’s achieved a lot – and a lot of the time they have had a great mentor behind them,” she said.
“Maybe I won’t be the one who changes the world, but at least I can help others to maybe go on with that.
“We all want to do something spectacular – but you can also help one individual and know it might be massive for that person.”