From One Old Girl to the Next: A Tradition Begins

Jimena Kotsomitis ('01) is an Old Girl, a former Manhattan lawyer, and the founder of Jimena Alejandra Jewellery. Earlier this year, she returned to St Margaret's to do something most people would find a little daunting: sit down with a group of Year 12 students to co-design a piece of jewellery that would belong entirely to them. The result is the St Margaret's Year 12 Necklace - shaped not by trends, but by the students themselves.

But Jimena's path to that room was anything but straightforward.

"While I absolutely love gemstones and jewellery, it wasn't always the path I imagined for myself. What I've come to realise is that the path beyond school rarely looks exactly as you expect. But that's where the most wonderful things begin."

Her own path took her from St Margaret's to a dual degree in law and creative industries at QUT, then to New York City on her 21^st birthday, knowing nobody, sitting the Bar Exam, and practising as NBC's in-house intellectual property lawyer in Manhattan. She later returned to Australia to care for her father, and it was during that time that everything shifted. She enrolled in goldsmithing in Paddington, immersed herself in gemstones, and in 2016 founded Jimena Alejandra Jewellery in Brisbane, followed by an atelier in New Farm and a Diploma of Gemmology.

For Jimena, returning to campus was personal. 

"Walking back onto the grounds, I was very aware that I was once in their position - full of ideas, but not quite knowing where life would take me. To now return and contribute something that will become part of their experience, something they’ll carry with them beyond school, is very special. It’s not just about creating a piece of jewellery - it’s about creating something that holds meaning, that becomes a marker of this chapter in their lives," Jimena said.

To create the piece, Jimena sat down with a group of Year 12 students, and worked through the design, the symbolism, and the meaning behind various gemstones. She asked them to reflect on their time at St Margaret's and the values that defined their cohort. The students' voices became the foundation of everything that followed.

"What struck me was how thoughtful and self-aware they were. They weren't focused on accolades or achievements - they spoke about friendships, growth, resilience, and the feeling of becoming more sure of who they are. That really moved me. It reminded me that what stays with you long after school isn't what you did, but who you became," Jimena said.Those conversations shaped the design from the ground up.

“The goal was to create something that feels deeply personal to this cohort, while remaining timeless enough to be worn and treasured well beyond their school years - a piece that evolves with them, while always holding the meaning of where they began."

For Charlotte, one of the Year 12 students who participated, the motivation to be involved was straightforward.

“I volunteered because I really wanted our cohort to have something meaningful that represented who we are. Being part of the focus group felt like the chance to contribute to something lasting that would stay with us long after graduation."

What Charlotte didn't expect was how much she would enjoy the design process itself.

"I loved working with Jimena, hearing about her past career and her experience in the jewellery industry made the process feel even more special. She brought so much insight and creativity, and it was inspiring to see how she incorporated our ideas into a very meaningful design,” Charlotte said.

The final design features a pendant with three gemstones, each chosen to represent the values of that year's cohort. The overall design that will be recreated each year, with future year groups selecting their own stones and the qualities they stand for.

The Class of 2026 chose three values to define their cohort, each carried by a carefully selected stone. Pink for kindness - the warmth, empathy and support they have shown one another. Champagne for celebration - the joy, milestones and shared achievements that have marked these years. Peridot for growth - the personal and collective evolution of a cohort stepping into its final chapter of school.

“What I love most about the necklace is how intentional every element is. Nothing is random, the design feels timeless but still personal and it reflects the maturity we've grown into and the experiences we have shared.

It’s something I can imagine wearing years from now and still feeling the sense of connection to the people I went through school with," Charlotte added.

What Jimena hopes those students feel when they wear their necklace, decades from now, is the same thing St Margaret's gave her.

"When I think back to my time at St Margaret’s, what has stayed with me most isn’t any single achievement, but the sense of possibility that was quietly instilled in us. There was this underlying belief that we could become whoever we chose to be - that we were, in a sense, born to grow, to evolve, to 'fly upwards'.

I don’t think you fully understand that at the time, but it stays with you. I see it now in how I approach my work - the courage to change direction, to build something of my own, and to keep going even when it feels uncertain. That sense of quiet confidence and resilience is something I carry with me every day.”

Families with a daughter in Year 12 can purchase the necklace until 7 August. Jimena will also be at the Mayo Arts Festival on 1 August and would love to meet students in person to assist with sizing and metal tone. Necklaces can be ordered online via the link provided in the POD.