OSCA
YOUNG OLD BOYS ’ COMMITTEE LOOKS TO AN EXPANDED PROGRAM IN 2021
YOBs and OSCA – powerful platforms
During this difficult year , the youngest Old Boys ( the YOBs ' – those who have finished school in the past 10 years ) have been striving to maintain connections with each other , and to engage with the wider Scotch community .
With in-person and physical events mostly impossible , the bulk of YOBs ' connection has been through digital means .
Our main focuses for the year have been the launch of a YOBs ' Instagram page , and a series of Zoom sessions for Year 12 students with the headline ‘ what to expect from life after Scotch ’.
The Instagram page (@ OSCA _ YOBS ) was launched in February at the Welcome to OSCA for the Class of 2019 . The page now has over 600 followers , the majority of whom are in their first five years out of school .
Posts often reach 100 to 150 ‘ likes ,’ and are largely focused on shout-outs to YOBs who are doing something a bit different - for example , a jockey , an animation producer , a podcast host , up-andcoming musicians , and many more .
As boys sought to keep busy and active during the first COVID-19 lockdown , one post by Old Boys from the Classes of 2015 and 2016 included a series of golf trick-shots around the house .
A key theme on the Instagram page has been an increased focus on mental health . There have been multiple posts promoting initiatives such as R U OK and It ’ s Not Weak to Speak . We have also promoted the idea of ‘ getting around ’ your mates , which has been driven by members of the Class of 2012 through a discussion page about all things mental health . The feedback from these posts has been hugely positive .
As well as focusing on the YOBs ' community through Instagram , we realise the importance of supporting future YOBs as well – most immediately the Year 12 boys of 2020 . Our series of Zoom sessions in September involved YOB panellists who did not try to give ‘ advice ’ or tell the Year 12 boys what to do , but instead recounted their post-school pathways , and offered their thoughts and experiences on staying connected , keeping healthy , and exploring life outside of Scotch .
The first session acted as an introduction to the series and to what the YOBs ' group is about . We talked about the hundreds of possibilities and pathways available post-school , such as university , gap years , apprenticeships and full-time work . We highlighted the extra effort required to maintain friendships and connections , and the lifestyle changes from Scotch ’ s heavily structured 8.30am−3.30pm timetable .
Each of the next three sessions was dedicated specifically to one of three university courses ( commerce / business , science / biomed , and arts ), where a facilitator and panel of two discussed ‘ a day in the life of a student ’. In coming years , we would love to expand these sessions to more university courses , and indeed to non-university pathways such as travel , work and apprenticeships .
There was a flood of questions from the Year 12 students , indicative of a high level of engagement , and eagerness to learn more about post-school life . Some questions were incredibly simple and broad , such as :
• How much time do you spend at university per week and on doing homework and extra study ?
• What kind of work do you have to submit , what is the class structure , and how are the various subjects assessed ?
• What is the benefit of achieving high scores if all you really need is a pass ?
• Is university harder than VCE ?
• Is it worth doing a double degree or studying overseas ? Others were specific to a course :
• What are the most popular majors in Arts and Commerce ?
• Can a Commerce degree get you into much , or do you need to do extra study afterwards ? And others were about work :
• Do you have time to fit in a part-time job ? Does this need to be in a field you are studying ?
• Are there many job opportunities above minimum wage during university ?
• What kind of job do you expect to do once you finish your degree ?
The questions were revealing , and each of them represented a piece of knowledge that the Year 12 students wanted but had not gleaned from other sources . The panellists shared their own experiences and offered a range of perspectives ; and the sessions benefited from having panellists from different courses and universities .
The number of boys in attendance exceeded expectations , and the positive feedback from the Year 12s assured the YOBs ' committee that these sessions provided a tangible and helpful resource . Furthermore , they illustrated that YOBs and OSCA are powerful platforms that boys can use for connections , mentoring , support and advice .
Given the success of this year ’ s pilot initiatives , the YOBs ' committee is enthusiastic about providing an expanded program in 2021 .
The initiatives help address OSCA ’ s strategy and fit with The Cardinal Thread theme .
LACHIE STRATHMORE (’ 15 ) – CHAIR , YOBS ' COMMITTEE
74 Great Scot Issue 161 – December 2020