I’ve always been ambitious. In my Grade 6 graduation video, I confidently declared my future as a doctor, lawyer, and author(in my spare time, of course). This enthusiasm carried over to my High School years at Ivanhoe Girls’. From day one, I dove into everything - kayaking, musicals, SRC, synchronized swimming, debating – the list goes on. Being surrounded by equally open-minded and driven women reiterated to me that the sky was the limit. The people I met and the opportunities I embraced at Ivanhoe Girls’ set me on the path to becoming the confident, empowered woman I am today, and for that, I am deeply grateful.

As I approached my final years of Secondary School, I thought I would “just” be a doctor. But life had other plans. During my final year, while studying for exams, I fainted every time I stepped into a clinical setting. So, I had to pivot quickly. I focused on what I excelled at - math and science - and embarked on a double degree in Software Engineering (Honours) and Commerce (majoring in Finance) at Monash University. Looking back, I’m so thankful for that decision.

However, my story isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. Engineering challenged me like nothing before. I’d breezed through high school, but university was a reality check. I often felt a step behind, anxious about assessments, and spent countless hours studying just to scrape by. After my first semester, I doubted I could finish. Yet, as someone who sees things through, I persevered—and I’m so glad I did. That discomfort forced me to grow in ways I hadn’t imagined. I truly believe that to become great, you need to get comfortable with being uncomfortable.

Just as I seized every opportunity in high school, I encourage you to do the same early in your career. Apply for internships, join clubs, and soak up as much experience as you can. It’ll help you figure out what you want (or don’t want) to do.

When I landed a job at TikTok, I was ecstatic yet nervous. Moving to Sydney felt monumental for my close-knit Greek family, and there were tears shed over leaving behind everything I knew. My advice? Take the risk, especially early in your career. How bad can it be?

As women, we often second-guess ourselves, hesitating to apply for jobs we don’t feel fully qualified for or missing out on opportunities we think others deserve more. My final piece of advice is to DREAM BIG. I was once told to set seemingly unachievable goals. As a realist and perfectionist, that was tough, but every time I aimed high—like landing a role at TikTok—I achieved it. You can only reach your greatest dreams, so make them as large as possible.

Elysia Giannis (Class of 2017)
Software Engineer at TikTok