For Harding Miller Education Foundation (HMEF) coaches, the opportunity to support a young woman through high school is about more than checking in once a month. It’s about being someone in her corner – someone who listens, encourages and reminds her of what she’s capable of.
For one HMEF coach, that feeling is particularly personal. Having once been a Harding Miller scholar herself, she knows first-hand just how powerful the coach-scholar relationship can be.
“When I was a Harding Miller scholar, my coach had the biggest impact on me. I’d argue that she was my favourite component of the scholarship!”
Her coach was someone who made her feel supported and understood at a pivotal time in her life.
“She was so helpful, so cheerful and always backing me. I felt seen and heard by someone who didn’t even really know me.”
So, when the opportunity came to become a coach herself, there was no hesitation.
“It was a complete no brainer for me!”
Today, she coaches five Harding Miller scholars from across Australia – and she has no doubt that each of them has an exciting future ahead.
“I’m sure they will achieve great things beyond high school.”
From nervous first calls to lasting connections
Starting out as a coach came with a few nerves. She expected those first conversations with her scholars might be awkward or anxiety-filled, particularly when picking up the phone for the first time.
But her first coaching call quickly put those worries to rest.
“I was mentally preparing myself for some awkward, anxiety-driven conversations with my scholars, especially over the phone for the first time. However, my first phone call with my first scholar completely shocked me!”
Instead of an awkward conversation, she found herself chatting with a bright, bubbly and enthusiastic young woman who was eager to share her experiences, challenges and hopes for the future.
“She was so bright, so bubbly and full of life. We had the best conversation, talking about her challenges at school, the scholarship resources and what she looked forward to in the future.”
And what was meant to be a first phone call turned into more than an hour of conversation.
“Before I knew it, we were over an hour into the call!”
That relationship has continued to grow. More recently, her scholar shared photos from her Year 12 formal – a moment that made her reflect on just how quickly the years can pass.
“I’m so excited to see her enter this new chapter of her life, but also a little sad that she won’t be my scholar anymore.”
Learning that coaching can be easy and free-flowing
One of the biggest surprises of coaching has been just how naturally the relationships have developed.
“I felt as though I always needed to be switched on, by checking on my scholars as much as I could. I didn’t expect coaching to be as easy and free flowing as it is.”
While she makes a point of checking in with her scholars at least once a month, she’s found that those check-ins often happen organically.
“They will reach out themselves asking a question before it merges into a catch up conversation.”
For her, that is one of the most rewarding parts of coaching: knowing that her scholars feel comfortable enough to reach out when they need support.
“It’s also taught me that my guidance and help is much more appreciated than I might think.”
“I find it comforting that my scholars reach out to me when they have a question and feel comfortable enough to rely on me when needed.”
The power of believing in yourself
If there’s one message she hopes her scholars carry with them long after they finish school, it’s simple: believe in yourself.
“If there was one piece of advice that I could give my scholars (and I do make sure I tell them this as often as I can), it would be to believe in themselves.”
For her, changing the way we speak to ourselves can make a powerful difference.
“There is great power in changing your mindset from ‘I don’t know if I can do this’ to ‘I can do this and I will’.”
A recent session with Annelise McCarthy reinforced that message for her, and she believes it is something every young woman deserves to hear.
“I don’t think there is any advice better than encouraging young women to believe in themselves.”
“If young women really put their mind to something, they can achieve it with their eyes closed!”
Ultimately, she hopes her scholars leave school carrying not just the skills and experiences they’ve gained, but a strong belief in who they are and what they can achieve.
“It all begins with yourself and your belief that you can really do anything.”
“I hope my scholars always remember the smart, bubbly and motivated young women they are when they leave school and pursue their dreams.”
For this coach, becoming an HMEF coach is a chance to give back the same encouragement and belief that once meant so much to her.
And perhaps that is what makes the coach-scholar relationship so special: sometimes, the person who once needed someone in her corner becomes the person standing in someone else’s.
