Glen Waverley Secondary College

Moved to Australia, and started year 8 here. I’ve had the worst experience, there is zero support for new students, like nothing at all, no teacher support or resources to understand the system. I was a straight A student before coming here and got my first D only because I didn’t know when the test was and didn’t have a tutor. Another thing I hated, since this school is filled with Asians, we all relu on tutors instead of the teacher. Which then disadvantages students like me who need the teacher to explain stuff. And anther thing, if you think there’ll be no/ less racism as an Asian just cuz there’s all Asians here then you’re so wrong. In fact, I’ve heard people from a diff country call someone else a slur or exclude on the basis of ethnicity. Moreover there’s a huge bullying issue here, it’s not evident since it’s internal bullying such as exclusion or calling names out of class where the teachers won’t notice. As if the teachers would do anything, I remember experiencing this and never getting any support. I was just told to “focus on my studies” and was given a counsellor who did nothing really but I don’t blame them. The school doesn’t believe in mental health, never supported the wellbeing centre we have, doesn’t really do anything to support students.
However, I’ve met some of the best people here, now my closest friends, it took me a while (3 years) to find my way here and blend in. The school promotes studying nothing else, not even sport or performing arts. It’s just for science, maths, or tech. Senior school teachers I’ve had are the best at giving support and resources and I think it’s important for a teacher to support their students and even the school to provide mental support. Instead they’re producing mindless workers with burnout and severe depression. I could never be proud of this school, sorry..