Finding Purpose – Year 9 Reason for Being Program
As students navigate high school, discovering their purpose and building meaningful connections becomes essential for their personal growth and future success. Santa Maria College’s Reason for Being program, designed specifically for Year 9 students, offers an empowering, experiential approach to self-discovery, community building, and values-based learning as they prepare to transition into Year 10. This transformative program encourages students to reflect deeply on who they are and who they aspire to become.
Developing a Personal Sense of Purpose
Year 9 marks a pivotal time of growth and change. As students approach Year 10, they begin to make important subject choices that will shape their senior years and, potentially, their future careers. Before they decide on what they want to do, Santa Maria College encourages them to first reflect on who they want to be. The Reason for Being program guides students through a journey of personal reflection, helping them identify core values that will serve as a compass throughout life.
The program’s theme, inspired by the French concept ‘Raison d’être’ or ‘reason to be’, revolves around helping students answer a central question: “What is my reason for being?” Over three transformative days, students reflect on three essential perspectives: Who am I? Who am I with others? Who am I in the world? Through a mix of practical and creative activities, they explore their strengths, values, and aspirations, discovering the importance of self-understanding as a foundation for making meaningful decisions.
Fostering Belonging and Community
Creating a sense of belonging is crucial during these formative years, and Reason for Being fosters this by encouraging open dialogue and connection. One of the program’s most impactful activities, Pairs and Repairs, developed by Majella Dennis of Encompass Psychology & Education, invites students to consider ‘the unseen side’ of each story and learn strategies for healing and strengthening relationships. This exercise deepens empathy and promotes a sense of responsibility toward the larger school community.
By setting goals and envisioning the culture they want within their year group, students learn that they have the power to create a positive and supportive environment. These skills are invaluable not only for their senior years but for life beyond school, as they learn to build relationships, resolve conflicts, and contribute positively to any community they join.
Building Compassion and Leadership Skills
At Santa Maria College, leadership is seen as more than a set of skills, it is a commitment to making positive choices that benefit others. The Reason for Being program integrates the College’s values of Hospitality, Compassion, Justice, Service, and Excellence, through activities that build empathy, ethical decision-making, and social responsibility. For example, in The Moral Dilemma, students confront complex ethical questions and navigate difficult choices, developing a foundation of compassion and critical thinking. Another activity, Perspectacles Melodrama, allows students to role-play situations that challenge them to understand others’ viewpoints, encouraging empathy and creative problem-solving.
Through these experiences, students begin to see leadership as a way to inspire and support those around them. The program nurtures the skills and mindset they need to lead with empathy and integrity, learning that true leadership involves uplifting peers and serving the community.
Promoting Inclusivity and Critical Thinking
The program also encourages critical thinking and creativity through the Future City Project, where students imagine an inclusive community space. Each group is given a unique community portfolio and is tasked with designing a project that incorporates design justice – ensuring people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds are considered. Students bring these ideas to life by building models from recycled materials, creating a hands-on experience that celebrates teamwork and imaginative thinking.
Watching students collaborate on this project is inspiring. They not only develop practical design skills but also gain an appreciation for inclusivity, an essential quality for future leaders.
Prioritising Wellbeing and Connection
Facilitator Rebecca Kinsella emphasises the importance of prioritising students’ wellbeing: “With all of the challenges faced by our teens today, it is more important than ever to prioritise wellbeing and ensure students have the opportunity to share and feel connected within their year group.”
One of the program’s activities encourages students to explore and rank personal values. Values such as ‘Feeling secure’, ‘Connecting’, and ‘Loving and being loved’ always rank highest among our students. By reflecting on these values, students gain insight into what truly matters to them, grounding them in a strong sense of self that will guide their choices and interactions.
Shaping a Generation of Purpose-Driven Leaders
The Reason for Being program is an opportunity for students to build a foundation of purpose, empathy, and leadership. By the end of the program, students leave with a clearer understanding of who they are, a stronger connection to their peers, and a commitment to making positive, compassionate choices in the world around them.
Our students reflected:
“We have really enjoyed this experience. It has taught us so many life lessons that we will forever remember and will help us improve our lives. Thank you for the opportunity you have given us, from important lessons to fun activities that have not failed to put a smile on our faces” Charlise, Annabelle and Scarlett
“The activities we participated in were fun but also taught us important morals we can use in our everyday lives. This program has taught us to be respectful of other people because you never know what they are going through,” Hayley and Mila
Our hope is that our Year 9 students carry their ‘reason for being’ forward, using it as a source of strength and guidance in every stage of life. As Rebecca Kinsella explains, “We are challenging them to reflect on their core values and to consider who they want to be – not just in terms of a career, but as friends, family members, and community leaders. Watching that transformation is incredibly rewarding.”
Santa Maria is proud to be shaping a generation of resilient, purpose-driven leaders who will make a meaningful difference in their communities and beyond.
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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.
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