By Genevieve Kelly
Undergraduate Senior Student 2025
Undergraduate Senior Student, Genevieve Kelly, welcomed Sancta’s newest students at our Commencement Dinner on Saturday 15 February 2025 with the following address.
In a lot of ways, I would say Sancta was my invisible string. The invisible string theory suggests that an unbreakable string ties you to a certain person or place, even before we realise it.
When I was 12 years old, I assisted my oldest sister, Therese, in moving to Sancta, into ‘Tocta’ (the top of Octagon wing). When I was 15 years old, I sat with my family and watched the wedding video of my Mum and Dad in Sancta’s Chapel, concelebrated by Fr Brian Lucas, sitting here today, and their reception in the Sheldon Dining Hall. When I was 16, I wore my other sisters’ – Bernie’s and Lizzy’s – Fresher shirts and College jerseys to numerous sporting carnivals. When I was 17, I was accepted and enrolled into Sancta, following in the footsteps of my three older sisters and my Mum. At 18, I entered Sancta, not as a sister helping out, or a child learning about her Mum’s experience, but as my own person – Fresher of 2023.
I call it an invisible string because Sancta has been a part of my life since I can remember – hiding in plain sight. It had always just been a name, a place, a story. Something that would be another step in my life. I believed I would move in, study, and then move out. But instead, I fell in love. I fell in love with the energy, the friends, the spirit, the staff, and the place, I fell in love with Sancta.
I am beyond grateful and honoured to welcome the newest residents of Sancta Sophia College. On behalf of Sancta’s student leadership team, we are so excited to welcome you into this beautiful place.
To introduce myself, my name is Genevieve Kelly, Gen for short. As I mentioned earlier, I am the youngest of four girls. Growing up, I adored my older sisters, so I never believed that sisterhood was something I missed out on. Coming to Sancta I discovered something different and something I believe I didn’t know I needed.
I could try and explain this feeling in words and will share a special moment from my Fresher year.
On my 19th birthday, as Fresher Representative, I entered my House Committee meeting expecting a normal discussion with the other eleven members as we did weekly at our meetings. Instead, I was met with smiles, a cake and candles that they had bought and the sound of the committee singing ‘Happy Birthday’. At that moment, something that should have been so ordinary turned out to be extraordinary. I looked around and saw friends who were my role models and sister figures. I felt so loved and supported. And that feeling? That’s what it means to be part of this community. That’s what makes Sancta special. And now, you get to experience it too.
A residential college is a place where you eat, sleep, study, and live. But Sancta? Sancta makes eating, sleeping, studying and living something special. Something exciting. Something that never feels boring.
This next chapter is going to be so exciting. It’s also going to be new and so I want to share with you a few things that I have learned in the past two years.
Firstly, expect the unexpected. This is your time. I distinctly remember sitting in the back corner of this Dining Hall at the Commencement Dinner of 2023, next to Resident Assistant (RA) Ellie Crawford, feeling excited but also so nervous about what would come. If only I could sit next to that 18-year-old self and say, “It will turn out okay.” So, I say to you, with reassurance, whether you are full of adrenaline or feeling apprehensive, or unsure – it will be okay. It will be exciting, special, and the time of your life.
Sancta is a place where you grow, and challenge yourself, and where, even when things feel uncomfortable, you are safe. When I felt like growing up was difficult, Sancta was a place where I never felt alone because you have a community. We are here to support you, and you are here to support each other.
Secondly, say yes. Attend that event. Smile at that girl walking down the corridor. This is such an amazing opportunity and an incredible time to try things out. Say yes. Say hi. Sign up for that Palladian event or attend that sports carnival. You truly don’t know the power of one moment to lead to something incredible. Every decision that I have made in the past two years, I have thought, “I have everything to gain from doing this, and what do I have to lose?” Nothing. What have I gained? Memories, moments that I cherish, unexpected friendships and simply an incredible time. I would not change a single thing.
For now, I would like all the new students to pause for a moment. To notice that this is the first time that you are sitting in these wooden seats. Take note of how the words ‘8 Missenden Road’, ‘the Grose’, ‘the goose’, ‘walking in wisdom’, and ‘acas’ (academic gowns), are words that currently hold little significance to you. To look around and see faces that you cannot yet put names to.
The beauty in this moment is that in just a few weeks, you will sit in these chairs comfortably, those words will be embedded in your daily vocabulary and the faces you see will be familiar – they will be your friends and they will slowly fill up your camera roll with memories.
Before I finish, I want to acknowledge my leadership team, mentors, the residents here, RAs and staff who make this place what it is. The people here today have taught me what caring looks like, what bravery feels like and the power of showing up for others no matter what. This community is the heart of Sancta, and in time, you will see that too.
I hope you all have a wonderful night, and I cannot wait to get to know each and every one of you. I am so grateful the invisible string has tied us all here together.
