Why did you choose to study at the University of Melbourne?
The first moment I stood foot on campus when I was in Year 9, I was instantly captivated by the beautiful and historical architecture that surrounded me. It was mesmerising to think that so many academics had walked these corridors before me, each and every one of them being vital in inspiring new discoveries. It was an environment fuelled by innovation and was academically stimulating and I for one could not wait to be at the forefront of such progress.
I was also drawn to the University because of its flexible model of study in which allowed me to undertake studies in both Science and other disciplines that were not regarded as prerequisites for my degree. I was able to undertake various law subjects in which provided a unique and personalised study experience.
What inspires you about science?
At the age of 10, I was instructed to conduct a research investigation on a scientist who had been a pioneer in the field of science and medicine. My allocated scientist was Marie Curie, a physicist and chemist whose curiosity and innovation had led to her discovery of radioactive elements which contributed to advancing treatments for cancer therapy. At that time, cancer had taken the lives of many close to me. I could not help but wonder how a disease could progress to a stage that the human body and its mechanisms of defence could be rendered ineffective and I was confused as to why a portion of the population experienced this disease whilst others did not. Perhaps the largest concern I had during that project was that I was alerted to the fact that there was no pharmacological cure.
Reading through the complex medical jargon in an attempt to understand just how Marie Curie had been a pioneer was overwhelming, but it was the first chapter in what would become my very own Science journey. It instilled within me the confidence to pursue knowledge, the strength to not be afraid to ask questions and gave me a new passion of helping people through science. I have always been heavily involved in humanities, sports and various extracurriculars like debating and public speaking, but despite my multiple passions, I have always kept coming back to a central theme, that theme being how I will utilise my skills and knowledge to better the quality of someone else’s life.
Today, I am a third year Bachelor of Science student majoring in Microbiology and Immunology and each day I am exposed to new technological advancements that are making diagnostics, treatment and prevention of human diseases more efficient. This is curtesy of people such as Marie Curie and all those inquisitive scientists before and after her time that were driven by mitigating disease and infection in our population. The dynamic nature and constant evolution of the field is what inspires me to study Science.
What’s something you wish you’d known at the start of your degree?
For anybody looking to be challenged intellectually or inspired by progression or are inquisitive in general, Science is an extraordinary pathway to accomplishing your dreams. Science thrives on curiosity and encourages us to pursue answers. It is more than okay if you do not know where you want your degree to lead you in fact, it places you at an advantage because you are not restrained to only one discipline. Rather, you can allow yourself to explore the multitude of different majors on offer and discover the content you grasp with to reveal what you are truly passionate about.
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