2020 was not the year of lasts that the year 12 students at Bribie Island State High School expected. They've lost loved ones, dealt with the repercussions of COVID-19 and been the first year level to deal with the new QCE system with teachers that knew just as much about it as they did. One student in particular, Lara Mernin, has been there for all of it. It is no secret that the mildly bad behaviour her school and her peers saw was as a result of the personal struggles she faced behind her strong exterior. BUT when we had thought we'd seen it all, Bribie Island State High School decided 18 days before her year 12 formal that she would not be invited to share the event with her friends. The same friends that united together to make these last few weeks ones to remember. After spending over $1,000.00 on her formal outfit (which is one i promise you'd love to see), writing a sincere apology letter to the principle and attending meetings of which included information about Lara's mental health and whom she has been seeing to get help, the answer was still NO. She had no personal warnings of this and was caught off guard by their decision. We aren't asking for much, we'd just like our school to have a little bit of compassion. This happens all to often at our school, formal is an important day for all of the year 12s. Sign this petition to help us convince our school that Lara is just as deserving as the rest of her peers to attend her formal.