Not Because It's Easy

Haylee Hicks’ boarding journey started when she was just 8 years old.

‘I started boarding – at a school with my brothers – when I was in grade 3.’

It would be six years before she would join the tartan clan on the edge of the Great Dividing Range.

‘I started at Fairholme in Year 9 and I guess I had a bit of confidence because I’d already been a boarder – but I instantly liked Fairholme.’

Her family was based up in the Northern Territory, and so, Haylee was a long way from home.

‘But the relationships at Fairholme were so strong and the staff were all so caring – it was more like a big family than a school.’

A family she leaned in on this year, when the global pandemic meant she was even further from home - unable to see her family for more than half the year.

‘I was actually unable to go home in the semester break because of border closures. I hadn’t seen my family for five months and there was just a lot going on.’

On top of her travel restrictions, her brothers were in the ACT and also unable to get home.

‘It was so difficult for everyone but when both my parents came down for the formal – it made it so special.’

There’ll be no gap year for Haylee, who plans on continuing her studies next year at Brisbane’s QUT.

‘I am hoping to get into either clinical exercise physiology or nursing.’

Dr Evans’ encouragement of ‘We don’t do it because it’s easy – we do it because it is hard’ is one that Haylee says will continue to guide her through the challenges she might face.

‘That saying will help me so much in life, and knowing that I have such a great network of good friends from Fairholme. We are so connected. I will miss our Holmegroup too – Miss Butler has been a wonderful support for me.’

Haylee joined her cohort today for the Jump n Jive on the College Oval one last time, after an emotional Valedictory Assembly.



The students expect ATAR results in mid December.