Ella & Estela Return – Economics & Honest Chat with Year 12s
Our Year 12 Economics students had a special visit today – past students Ella Sharman and Estela Taranto (Class of 2024) came back to chat all things uni, life after school, and why they chose to study Economics.
The girls are both at Curtin University, Estela completing a Bachelor of Advanced Commerce and Ella completing a double degree in Law and Commerce. They shared their lived experience, the highs, lows and surprises of gaining entry into university and their first year of university life.
“I’ve been loving Commerce, especially at uni,” said Ella.
Real Talk from Real Students
Leaving school is exciting – but let’s be honest, it is also a bit nerve-wracking. Choosing courses, making new friends, finding your way around uni, balancing study with life – it is a lot. That is why chats like this matter.
Ella and Estela shared:
- Why Economics was the right ATAR choice for them
- What uni has been like so far
- How they managed the big jump from school to uni
They also answered all the questions our Year 12s really wanted to ask – from managing stress to navigating workloads and finding your people.
Just One Year On…
There is something powerful about hearing from someone who was literally in your shoes this time last year. Their stories are honest, relatable, and packed with little nuggets of advice that make a big difference.
Ella’s top tip? “Don’t put too much pressure on yourself in your studies, apply for as many scholarships as you can and enjoy everything that Year 12 has to offer”
Why It Matters
These conversations are not just about university or subject choices. They are about showing our girls that there is no one ‘right’ way to do life after school and that it is normal to feel unsure at times. They are also about building confidence, sparking ideas, and giving them a real glimpse into what is next.
We speak about understanding the real world, building independence, resilience, and critical thinking, and sessions like this are one way we bring that to life.
- ATAR, CurtinUniversity, Economics, Featured, LifeAfterSchool, SantaMariaCollegeAlumni, StudentSuccessStories, Year12Inspiration
Author: Santa Maria College
Santa Maria College is a vibrant girls school with a growing local presence and reputation. Our Mission is to educate young Mercy women who act with courage and compassion to enrich our world. Santa Maria College is located in Attadale in Western Australia, 16 km from the Perth CBD. We offer a Catholic education for girls in Years 5 – 12 and have 1300 students, including 152 boarders.
Save the Date – Joint Aquinas College & Santa Maria College Event
The joint Aquinas and Santa Maria alumni event will be held on Friday 18 September 2026. It is being organised by the Santa Maria College Old Girls’ Association Committee in partnership with Aquinas College and will bring together alumni from both Colleges for an evening of reconnecting, conversation, drinks, and light refreshments.
Sisterhood Alumni Networking Series with Dr Carmen Lawrence
We are launching our 2026 Sisterhood Alumni Networking Series with an evening featuring distinguished past student Dr Carmen Lawrence. The event includes a special Q&A session exploring her career in psychology, politics, education, and social change. It will be held at Santa Maria College on Wednesday 10 June from 6.00 pm to 7.30 pm.
From the President – May 2026
Santa Maria College alumni can look forward to several upcoming events in 2026. These include a joint alumni event with Aquinas College later in the year, a movie night at Windsor Theatre Nedlands in late July, and the Pleiades Meeting hosted at Santa Maria College in August. The update also encourages support for the College’s Winter Appeal.
Weekly Wrap Up – Week 6 & 7, Term 2
