Below is a transcription of the speech Cassidy delivered at the 10th Game Changer Awards on 3 November 2025.
Cassidy Morgono shares her Game Changer Awards story with students at the 10th Game Changer Awards held at Edith Cowan
University, Joondalup in November 2025.
So, if you’re thinking this is just another fun elective or a small school project, I’d challenge that — because the things you learn here
can genuinely open doors in your future. Whether that’s a scholarship, a uni pathway, or just standing out when you apply for something down
the line, these experiences really do add up.
But honestly, more valuable than any scholarship were the skills I built through competing. These competitions aren’t just about tech or
coding — they’re about learning how to work with people, present ideas clearly, and handle problems that don’t come with easy answers.
That last part — problem solving — is probably the most important thing I’ve carried with me. When we think of problem solving at school, we
often picture maths problems: neat, tidy, and with one right answer. But when you’re working on a project like this, it’s never that simple.
Things break. People disagree. Your idea doesn’t go the way you planned.
And that’s kind of the point.
When I competed, my team and I hit roadblocks all the time. Sometimes our code didn’t work, or our design wasn’t coming together, or we were
just completely stuck on what to do next. But those moments forced us to slow down, rethink, and actually listen to each other’s ideas.
That’s where the real learning happened — not when everything went smoothly, but when we had to figure things out together. And that’s a
skill that goes way beyond school.
Cassidy Morgono, Aaliyah Nestoridis-Culbong (MC), Premila Jina (Chair) and Jamie Erak (MC) at the 2025 Game Changer Awards.
At uni, and even in work, you don’t always get a set of instructions. You have to figure things out as you go. And being able to step back,
ask questions, and adapt — that’s the skill that gets you through pretty much anything.
Now, I know it might feel like all this talk about “the future” is still miles away. I felt the exact same when I was in high school.
University, careers, adulthood — it all seemed like something that would happen later.
But looking back now, I can see that the things I did in high school — especially projects like Game Changers — were actually the
starting point.
When you work on something like this competition, you’re not just building a project — you’re building habits. You’re learning how to take
initiative, how to communicate, and how to follow through on something you care about. That’s what’s going to make you stand out, whatever
path you choose.
And to be honest, you probably won’t realise it right away. I didn’t. But down the line, you’ll notice that the same teamwork, planning, and
problem-solving skills you’re using here are the ones that help you manage uni assignments, handle group work, or even just deal with life
in general — and eventually, they’re the same skills that’ll help you navigate your career, too. Whether it’s collaborating with colleagues,
managing projects, or finding creative ways to tackle challenges, you’ll see how much of what you’re learning now carries over.
If there’s one thing I’d encourage you to take away from today, it’s this: the effort you’re putting in now does matter. It’s not about
being perfect or having the best project in the room. It’s about learning how to think, create, and work with others — because those are the
things that will keep showing up in every stage of life – no matter what degree or career you choose.
So, as you present your projects today, don’t stress too much about getting everything right. Enjoy the process. Be proud of what you’ve
made.
And recognise that even if you don’t see it yet, you are learning things that will carry forward with you.
Thanks, and good luck with your presentation!