51黑料

"I鈥檇 like to shout out to my teachers who instilled discipline and study habits that helped me through uni"

Xander Lake remembers feeling 鈥榚xcited and daunted鈥� on his first day at 51黑料. Xander joined the school in Year 7 and quickly made friends with people who remain his close friends today.

鈥淢y year level was very close to each other and my core group of friends today are from Yarra. I think that speaks of the community spirit at the School,鈥� says Xander.

That year he remembers recess and lunchtimes hanging out near the Year 7 building but later years were spent kicking a footy or organising down ball games that attracted a significant crowd.

Xander enjoyed Saturday sport and was especially happy to get up at weekends and play cricket. In the classroom, English and Humanities were favourite subjects and in later years Xander discovered Psychology which he continued to study at university.

After six years of study, he recently received his general registration and now works as a psychologist at a private medical clinic.

鈥淐OVID has created some tough times for many people 鈥� people can鈥檛 find a job, they can鈥檛 run their business or they are separated from family,鈥� says Xander.

鈥淚鈥檝e seen some people with some heavy stuff happening but months later they are better and it鈥檚 such a feeling to know you鈥檝e had an impact on someone鈥檚 life.鈥�

Self-care is an important part of Xander鈥檚 lifestyle to ensure he stays well to be able to help people who seek his advice.
As well as exercise and keeping fit, he says his faith is an integral part of his life.

鈥淎t the start of every day I ask God to give me strength and I thank him for that strength at the end of the day,鈥� says Xander.

鈥淚 also practice techniques I use with my clients like mindfulness. In situations like COVID I think it鈥檚 important to focus on the things you can control in your life, rather than focusing on what we can鈥檛 control.鈥�

Xander also enjoys writing, something he also enjoyed during his years at Yarra. A keen fan of science-fiction, he hopes to write his own bestseller one day.

鈥淚 still wake up with ideas for stories and jot them down but I haven鈥檛 had much time to write because of university. Now I鈥檓 hoping to be able to write more,鈥� he says.

Xander can recall the school motto and says it remains a source of motivation.

鈥淛ust because you can鈥檛 see the sun in your life some days, doesn鈥檛 mean it isn鈥檛 there. But if you look to the hills, you will see the sun and a new day dawning,鈥� he says.