Captain Cool – “I took on too much … but no regrets”
Luca Gillard made sure everything about Year 12 was fun, even when his duties as School Captain, his Cadets leadership, studies, and high-level running filled his schedule to overflowing.
Fun is the word that crops up time and again in his reflections on a demanding year.
“In hindsight I may have committed to a little too much but I don’t regret it at all,” he said.
“Even if it means I had less of a chance to study, or my marks aren’t as good as they could have been, it was still worth it.”
His proudest achievement was enjoying himself along the way while fulfilling his duties as School Captain.
“It wasn’t a job or a chore. I genuinely had loads of fun with it.”
He praises the commitment, knowledge, and expertise of his teachers but his favourite thing about them is “how happy they are to have a laugh with us boys to enjoy the experience”.
“I feel as though I know my teachers a lot better now. We can have a laugh and we are treated more as adults.
“I also have really enjoyed the almost ‘team’ aspect of Year 12, everyone helping each other through the IB.
“I never thought I would have 500-plus people under my command, in Cadets, at such a young age. But most of all, I enjoyed just having a laugh on camp with friends.”
He said he and his School Vice-Captains made every effort to build the Trinity culture and pride amongst the boys “and I feel that we achieved it”.
“I wanted to hand over to the next Captain a school that was in a better position than I found it, and I am comfortable that I did that.”
Luca has been running at national level for seven years, winning 12 medals along the way, and hopes to compete at the Olympics.
“Running is the best way for me to relax and de-stress from study. It keeps my life structured, even during the holidays, and is a great way to forget about studying for an hour or more each day.”
Attending Trinity was “without a doubt the best decision I could have made”.
“Not everyone would be suited to a school like this. The schedule can be demanding at times, but I think that brings out the best in us boys.”
An enduring memory is his first CAS track and field championships, hearing “600 boys in the stands chanting my name as a little Year 7; it’s something I will never forget”.
He found support from his family, including his older sister, his teachers – especially Head of Geography Adrian Shipp for keeping him “driven and motivated” – and his friends, particularly Toby Henry and Kevin Ma.
“I spent countless free periods chatting to them in the library. We supported each other by helping out with school work, but also by keeping our minds at ease and relaxed during stressful submission periods and exams.”
He hopes to study either medicine or law/science.
“I also think it is likely I will pop up as a politician at some point in life. I am not sure in what capacity, but I can see it happening somehow.”