Newly selected Collingwood Football Club women鈥檚 player Erica Fowler will return to her Sunshine Coast school 国产麻豆AV to meet senior girl students who are keen sports players on Tuesday, 30 October.
Graduating from Flinders with the Class of 2010, Erica now works as a paramedic in Brisbane and recently completed the AON University Rugby 7s series.
She credits Flinders 鈥� one of Australia鈥檚 leading academic schools 鈥� for giving her a strong foundation in life and is looking forward to 鈥榞iving back鈥� by inspiring Flinders students to embrace every opportunity to explore their talents.
鈥淚 am grateful to Flinders for providing me with endless sporting, music and academic opportunities,鈥� Erica said.
鈥淎t Flinders, I was taught how to be resilient, have faith within my own capabilities and to be committed to achieving what I set out to do,鈥� she said.
鈥淭he exposure and caring learning environment established by my teachers enabled me to want to pursue both my professional career as a paramedic with the Queensland Ambulance Service and my sporting careers.鈥�
Flinders Principal Stuart Meade welcomed Erica back to the College to meet with top sporting senior female students who are passionate about AFL and other sports, including swimming, touch football and hockey.
鈥淲e are thrilled when our Old Flinderians鈥� return to our College to share their successes and to mentor our students,鈥� Stuart said.
鈥淎s an educator, this kind of supportive interaction between our students, past and present, is heartening to witness.
鈥淲e want our students to understand that by grasping opportunities here at school they are setting themselves up to enjoy a rich and fulfilling life in the future.
Erica will move to Melbourne in November to commence her professional career training with the Collingwood Football Club for the 2019 AFL Women鈥檚 season.
She considers herself a 鈥渓ate bloomer鈥� as she became involved in AFL only two years ago when she was 24 years old.
鈥淚 am nervous about the move the Melbourne, but I am excited to start a new career,鈥� she says.
鈥橧鈥檓 passionate about AFL because it is challenging and incorporates a variety of different athletic attributes.
鈥淚t also provides a pathway for women鈥檚 sport on a national stage as well as with off-field opportunities for personal development.鈥�
Erica hopes she can be a role model for young girls who are considering a career in sport.
Erica says upon graduating from Flinders she was passionate about studying to become a Paramedic.
鈥淏ut never in my life would I have thought that one day I would be playing AFL for the Collingwood Football Club. To be able to enjoy both rewarding careers is something I am very grateful for.鈥�
Her advice to students is to focus on your growth, both personally and in terms of what you can offer to others.
鈥淎nd I would encourage young people wanting to succeed in life to continue to seek feedback from those around you, find your point of difference and take every opportunity you鈥檙e given to improve and gain experience.鈥�
Erica is particularly grateful to her high school teacher Sheree Bell for her continued support.
鈥淢rs Bell has provided constant encouragement and support through the highs and lows I have faced, and I鈥檓 so grateful for her care.鈥�
For more information about an education at Flinders and about sports scholarships in 2019, please visit the College website.
