For Emerald local Kaleija Tucker, flight is the common link between her two burning ambitions: to become an Olympic gymnast and an astronaut.
Kaleija is being supported to achieve her dreams through the help of a signature program at St Margaret’s that allows her to successfully combine an intensive gymnastic training schedule with her academic ambitions which may one day launch her into space.
The chance to take advantage of both the school’s gymnastics program and the many opportunities available in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) saw Kaleija transition to the school’s boarding house from Emerald, where she had participated in her first gymnastics lesson when she was just five at the Emerald Gymnastics and Trampoline Club.
Today she is training nine to ten hours per week.
“The Flyers Program gives me time during the school day to complete my homework and assignments which frees up my afternoons for gymnastics training,” said Kaleija.
“My mum attended St Margaret’s and we knew the school had a great gymnastics program and that there would be more opportunities for me to train and compete at an elite level in Brisbane.”
As well as being part of the St Margaret’s QGSSSA Artistic Gymnastics team, Kaleija trains through the Delta Gymnastics Aspire program for promising gymnasts.
“Floor is my best apparatus, and with Delta, I will have the opportunity to compete at club, state and national levels,” she said.
“My main aim is to one day compete at the Commonwealth Games and Olympics. It’s been a dream for as long as I can remember and now that I am training in Brisbane it seems within reach.”
Training to be an astronaut is also on her mind, and Kaleija says in the short time she has been at St Margaret’s she has been exposed to many inspiring opportunities.
“St Margaret’s offers a dedicated STEM subject which I am really enjoying.
“I’ve also participated in university workshops and experiences that have really opened my eyes to future career opportunities in STEM fields.
“In Term 1, I took part in a workshop at the Queensland University of Technology where we built and operated prosthetic limbs. Now, in class, we are designing and building a 3D printed prosthetic hand.
“This term, I also attended The University of Queensland’s Women in Engineering event where I participated in engineering workshops that have really inspired my interest in this field,” Kaleija said.
Kaleija is also loving every minute of her boarding experience.
“It’s a great community of girls and we all support each other. They’re like a second family.
“One of the things that helped me settle in so quickly was the closed weekend held at the start of the semester. We participated in lots of fun, group activities that were especially helpful for me to get to know everyone,” Kaleija said.