FROM BUDERIM TO LAUNCESTON – ROUND SQUARE EXCHANGE

For two weeks, Scotch Oakburn College has welcomed Mitchell Jonson and Veronica Gutierrez from Matthew Flinders Anglican College in Buderim, Queensland, as part of our Round Square Year 8 Exchange Program.

They quickly embraced life at Scotch Oakburn, throwing themselves into the experience of being students at a different school and making the most of the opportunity to meet new people and experience Launceston from a local perspective.

Reflecting on his exchange, Mitch said: “I loved my time here a lot. I got the opportunity to meet loads of new people, experience a different school from an actual student’s perspective, and live in Launceston with the Patterson family. It was an awesome time, though pretty cold!”

Perhaps the greatest measure of a successful exchange are the friendships that continue beyond it. Mitch and Veronica were delighted to leave Tasmania knowing that they had made new friends and could “confidently say that they have Tasmanian friends, which is pretty cool.”

Mitch also expressed his appreciation to the Patterson family for making him feel so welcome and encouraged others to take up the opportunity: “I definitely recommend going on exchange for anybody at all interested in it.”

Mitch and Veronica were outstanding representatives of Matthew Flinders Anglican College, throughout their time at SOC. Their enthusiasm, warmth and willingness to engage with our community embodied the spirit of Round Square and the value of learning through genuine connections across different school cultures. We look forward to seeing where their Round Square journey takes them next.

Stuart Walls
Director of Round Square