My name is Sorelle Warzecha and for a long time I had no idea what I wanted to do in life. It’s not that I had no options, it’s that I have too many. You see, I have always been really good at almost everything I do, so I just had no idea what to choose out of so many exciting possibilities.
Than, one day at school one of my teachers said “You should consider doing Event Management, you would be perfect at that”.
The light bulb went on at that moment. It DID feel like I just came home after a long trip. You see, Event Management is not what I want to do, it is not even my passion, it happens to be what I am!
Ever since I remember, I have been organizing everything and everybody.
My Mum has many stories of me organizing all the family’s birthday parties (to the budget) and having everything running really smoothly, because I not only did not forget anything, but had few contingency plans as well. And I started that at 4!
Over the years I fine-tuned my abilities (and relaxed a bit, allowing myself to enjoy the process), but my life has always ran to a schedule. But that is just the way I want it, because you can fit in so much more into an organized life.
Over the last three years I ran many events and programs that will show you exactly why Event Management and I are a perfect match.
In year 12 I was elected a President of a Student Representative Council, where I was in charge of the whole student body, being hands-on involved and making decisions affecting all students within the school, whether it was for fundraising activities which were to take place at school, the meals served at the canteen, the social events that were coming up or just simply stepping up and talking with the teachers about my fellow peers concerns on behalf of the them.
This was a successful year as President for me. A direct quote from the SRC Teacher supervisor:
“This is the longest and best agenda I have seen in years!” (after one of the SRC meeting that I held).
The same year I got re-elected for the second year running as House Captain of the ‘Shelley’ House Team. (That created a precedent, since you are supposed to be a House Captain only once). I felt it was a real vote of confidence from my peers, and so I took that position extra seriously.
Sure enough we did win the House Championship in 2006! That was the first time in many years for the Shelly house.
Sadly, after I left in 2007-Shelley House was no longer the Champion .
During the same year, the year 2006, I was also elected for the second year in a row, the Junior Club Captain of the Lennox Head/Alstonville Surf Life Saving Club. There, I worked with the Club Captain-Lukas Van Zwieten (who mentored me) to create a program called “The Rookies Program”, which aimed at recruiting and reducing the drop out level at the Surf Club for teenagers aged 13-15 years old. This is a critical program for the surf club as prior to this program, the drop out rate for teenagers was quite high due to the fact that the teenagers finish the nipper stage but are not yet old enough to complete their bronze medallion or to get their crew license for the Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB). Essentially, they had nothing to do in the surf club for 2 years.
I organized many events such as hiking trips, movie nights, group classes on first aid, board rescue training sessions, joint patrol of teenagers aged 13-15 and and so much more.
The feedback from the Rookies was fantastic!
“I am so happy that something is finally happening at the Surf Club. I was getting bored with the club as they had no activities to offer me and I was sure that I was going to stop coming to the surf club if something wasn’t about to start happening! Now I look forward to every gathering with the rest of the Rookies and Sorelle and Lucas”
Emma Barnett-member of the Rookie Team aged 15.
The reasons that I organized all those programs and events has were always, because there was a need, it was fun and I got to meet tons of really great people. It was never for recognition. However…..
One stressful day as I was studying for my Higher School Certificate Exams (HSC) I got a letter in the mail which informed me that I received a special award. I have received many awards in the past for my community work, but this one was very special. Even my Principal who nominated me for this award was over the moon.
It was the Order of Australia Certificate of Commendation for my Community Work, presented by the NSW Governor, Professor Marie Bashir in Government House in Sydney.
Out of 100s people nominated, only 25 received this award in NSW.
That was definitely the best recognition I ever got.
A few months on, everything just got better. I received my marks for my HSC exams and my University Admission Index (UAI) which was ranked one of the best in the whole year 12 class-a 90.7 score.
That is when I decided to go to Canada for my GAP year. I wanted a break from studying. Trouble was, since I was so busy in my last year of school with study and community work, I did not work. My bank balance was zilch, zero, nada, and I needed almost $7,000 just to cover my expenses. The plane was leaving in April…..
So, what does a determined person do when she wants something badly?
She sets a GOAL.
First, I got two part time jobs, but quickly realized that it would not be enough. So, I decided to fundraise the rest of the money.
I wrote a sales letter (see attached), knocked on many doors for sponsorship, ran a raffle and a disco.
It was stressful, it was challenging and it was a great success.
At the end I left for Canada not only with all the expenses paid, but also with $7,000 spending money.
I suppose that I could have been excused from working too hard in Canada, but of course my supervisor’s quickly found out about my special skills, and I became Outdoor Programmer, Summer Outdoor Programmer and an Interim Program Coordinator. All three positions heavily involve management and organisation. I have done and continue to do such things as organizing activity groups, running a Special day during summer camp (which has different themes and activities. Harry Potter or Pirates and Ninja’s theme anyone?), supervising other staff members to make sure the camp is running smoothly and the kids are having a great time. I guess I must be really good at what I do, because when our Program Coordinator left at the end of summer camp, I was chosen to take over her responsibilities. That includes contacting school groups and organizing their schedules, the activities which are going to be run on the day, organizing staff for the school groups, taking bookings for new schools wanting to come for fall to YoWoChAs and much, much more; all activities which kept the structure of the camp up right and kept the camp running successfully throughout spring, summer and autumn.
Sometimes I worked 14 hours a day, but I just love what I do!
That’s just the last 3 years. I do have other things I would like to mention which will show my commitment to self growth, excellence and reaching goals:
• Swimming champion on an international level
• Completing Anthony Robbins course (walking on fire really makes you believe you can do anything)
• Completing Communication and Problem Solving Skills course with The Effectiveness Training Institute of Australia
• Volunteer and professional lifesaver.
