Old Flinderian William Finch graduated with our Class of 2018 as the Flinders College Captain.
In this Q&A, William reflects on the lessons he learned during his Senior years at Matthew Flinders Anglican College and the lessons he continues to learn as he explores study, volunteering and a career.
As you will read, William has found that life beyond graduation is exciting and full of surprises!
William, what does life look like for you now
Currently, I am surviving through my sixth and (hopefully) final year of a Business and Law degree at Queensland University of Technology. I balance my university studies with responsibilities as the Vice-President of Consulting at 180 Degrees Consulting QUT, a student-led consultancy for non-profit organisations, along with employment at a leading general insurance law firm here in Brisbane.
What was your favourite Flinders moment?
In Term 3 of 2017, I was told I’d be the next Matthew Flinders Anglican College Captain. After the meeting, I walked back to my afternoon class. I think it was English with Mrs Walden. The halls were empty; it was a slow walk, and for the first time since beginning the application process, I allowed myself a moment to reflect on the magnitude of the position I’d just been given. In less than two years, I had convinced educational leaders and peers to vote a New Zealander into a position of leadership!
On a more serious note, I’d lived in four different countries, attended five different schools, and had only been at Flinders a few years. To be recognised in this position was a special gift, a reflection of my dedication to leadership and the trust of a grateful schooling community. In the short moments after the meeting, I’m thankful to have had a moment to myself as I walked through the empty school, knowing that I had been blessed with the greatest opportunity of my life to date. It was a slow walk back to class that day.
Scoring a hundred batting for Flinders in Year 12 was pretty great, too.
Do you have a particular role model from Flinders or now?
Mr Stuart Meade (Principal from 2017-2023) was an exemplary leader and role model. The calmness he portrayed reflected the respect he earned from teachers and students alike. Before our relationship developed further through various leadership positions in 2018, observing his interactions taught me the importance of having a level head in decision making, and the need for compassion when conversing with diverse people. You can learn a lot from observation; I was lucky enough to work closely with him through my senior year, alongside a talented and motivated student leadership team.
Other special mentions must go to Mr Gary Davis, Mr John Thomas and Mrs Skye Wallden. I was truly privileged to have a strong support network at school.
How "easy" was it to decide what to do in life?
Nearly impossible. I’m still figuring that out. Wrong answer?
This question is more open-ended than you might think. I cannot yet answer what to do in life. What I can answer is, “What values are most important to me when choosing what to do in life?”
I strive to find compassionate, driven and diverse work environments. More often than not, these environments foster and cultivate strong and intellectual leaders, dedicated to collaboration in work for the betterment of society. In deciding what to do in life, I recognise the importance of surrounding myself with individuals inspired to create positive change in our world. If I can learn from them and if I can connect with them, I can better realise my own ambitions and path.
Consequently, I place significant weight on choosing work environments that reflect these characteristics. Yes, sometimes the actual work itself is different from previously held employment positions. What better place to learn new skills?
Did your further study or career go exactly as you planned?
Absolutely not, no. A year ago, I was working at a tech-law startup with no anticipation or knowledge of the successes or challenges I’d face in the year to come. In between my university classes or when commuting home from work each day, I spent my time trying to predict where I’d be in 1, 2, 5 years’ time. What job would I be doing? Would I still be in Brisbane? What should I be doing with my life?
I’ll be the first to admit that none of my answers, not one, predicted travelling to the United Nations in Bangkok or working within a successful Brisbane law firm or leading a student-led non-profit consultancy, all in the space of a year.
What advice do you have for current students?
One of the easiest things you can do is compare yourself to those around you. At Flinders, and at university, you are surrounded by the top 10 percent – 5 percent, even – of high-achieving students across academics, music and sporting fields. This means that your direct comparison, or competition, is with high-achieving individuals.
That's tough, But it doesn’t have to be.
Between the Year 12 College Co-Captains and Vice-Captains (myself, Kristina Lane, Piers Herring and Ally Stevens respectively), I was awarded the lowest overall academic position grade as a Year 12 high-school leaver. It took me a long time to understand that everyone runs their own race in their own time. In the meantime, you must strive to put yourself in unique positions to learn. However, I learned more invaluable leadership skills from them than any math textbook or English novel could ever teach me; from Kristina's special balancing skills, to Piers' fierce intellect, to Ally's charisma and personable flair.
My advice? Win the battles inside your head before worrying about the people around you and then commit to your next decision with 100% of your energy; whether it’s choosing a new class, running a fundraising challenge, going after a leadership position or deciding what instrument to play. Commit to your decision, then put in 100% of your energy to accomplish that goal. If you do this, I promise you, opportunities will arise that you never thought existed; friendships will develop with people you never knew existed; and lessons will be learned that reshape your prior knowledge or prejudices.
The rewards of ambition are only realised through passion and dedication. The question is, what will you do with your ambition? Don’t waste it. Accept rejection. Pursue change. Be blessed with inspiration and realise your potential. Don’t let the comparison game destroy your growth.
On the 5th August this year I was rejected from a Law Graduate Program at a leading Brisbane law firm. That same week, on the 9th August, I stood up at the University Scholars Leadership Symposium in Thailand to address the United Nations and some 500 delegates from across 47 countries—a mix of global leaders and influential United Nations employees... Swings and roundabouts!
University Scholars Leadership Symposium, United Nations
Bangkok, Thailand, August 2024
Images from Will's experience as a speaker and delegate
