LUCKY #13 - happy birthday Zoe

Honestly, when you read back at everything you achieved in the past year I hope your body swells with pride. A quick summary below before I gush about how wonderful you've been and how proud I am of my 13 year old daughter. Highlights: CDS sports award at Year 6 graduation High Jump - ACTLAC champion, 15th at national ALAC in a PB of 1:40. YHS U13 record holder in high jump. 400m - ACTLAC champion in a PB, 11th at national ALAC in a PB. 800m - 3rd at ACTLAC, 11th at national ALAC in a PB 1500m - 3rd at ACTLAC, 11th at national ALAC in a PB Pole Vault - 2nd at ACTLAC, 10th at national ALAC SC swimming rep for YHS YHS XC age champion and first female across the line, moving onto zone. YHS age champion for Athletics and moving onto Zone.

School Sport ACT Nationals represented at: Cross Country in the Gold Coast. Touch Football at SSG03 in Ballart Victoria Track and Field in Canberra Raiders Touch Football National Youth Cup in Coffs Harbour

In 2024 you didnt make the School Sport team for Track and you were devastaed. You truned up this year and booked your ticket in every event you entered into. You also made a really tough decision to not attend NSW Touch State Cup in favour of ACTLAC in the hopes you'd qualify for the Australian Athletics Under Age chamionships. A decision that proved to be the right one! You've got big goals for 2026, NSW State for Athletics and a top 10 placing for YNA at JST along with a decent report card. Some of your other goals youve already achieved (ALAC and AAUC attendance, Captain for touch and netball).

You are the most stubborn person I know outside of looking in the mirror. You are still fierce and passionate and driven in everything you do. You were so ready for highschool. You hit the ground running, smashing in class quizzes and asignments, always seeking feedback on drafts and improving them before submission. You're learning about relationships, and navigating them outside of a text message. Despite all my words of wisdom you started "dating" a boy in year 8 early in term 1, within a week you were completely overwhelmed by the texts and calls and attention everyone gave the relationship and within 10 days you were begging for advice on how to end it. The social media ban, made it very easy for me to say no to TikTok and Snap chat, and its really not been that big of a deal breaker in terms of social circles for you.

You care more about how you look these days than ever before, and you're always checking with peers about their plans so you dont look like the odd one out, which I am not a fan of. I feel like i'm always saying "own what your good at babe, it doesnt matter what others think". I dont ever remember caring about what others thought, but maybe that just isnt true. You are an amazing help to me. I can rely on you to cook dinner if i'm going to be late, make sure the twins are dong the right thing, always letting me know when Coops is breaking our no ntech in the bedroom rule. You and he has moments that absolutely melt my heart and then other times I honestly wonder why theres such a deep hatred. You'll tell me its because Cooper gets whatever he wants and I never punish him and its soooooooo unfair, but thats not true at all. I dont think you realise how incredibly special it is that you're my only daughter. I don't think you realise just how much that gets you. I love our relationship, sure, we fight, but on a whole the time we spend toggther in the car or laying on your bed or at a hotel after a sporting event are my favourite. I may complain I have no time for myself, that my bank acount is bled dry for uniform costs, that the house is trashed, but honestly...... I truely will miss these days once you are older.

I'm really glad you and T have found a way to reconnect now you're at highschool. I love that you both still encourage each other to be the best you can be. I know the dynamic is hard sometimes with her being the year above, I know its hard for her to have your back in her bigger groups. But it's hard for girls, dont be too hard on her. To be fair, I'm really happy and surprised you and Zara havent had a major blow up. I'm really proud of your emotional maturing and understanding of Zara's quirks. I love seeing your friendship grow, i hope you always have a friend like Zara in your corner.

My advice to you on your 13th birthday remains the same it was when you were 10. *Always advcate for yourself, what is right, even when its uncomfortable to do so *Trust your instincts *Choose frineds who respect you, walk away from those that dont add value to your life *Be yourself, social media is a lie. Dont compare your journey to others *I am always here to talk to. Even when I'm not. Happy birthday baby girl. I love you.

Fav right now: 2002 by Anne-Marie Fav Book: Honestly, I'm not sure you have one Fav Movie: Pitch perfect Food: Subway; chicken snitzel, lettuce, carrot, extra red onion with chipotle sauce on italian herbs and cheese Favoutite subject at school: PE and Math You play: Netball, Touch footy, Athletics You Weight: 37kg You are 140cm tall. You love: your phone, friends, slick back sticks. Your BFFs: Zara McEvoy, Teuila Teofilo, Charli Facer