I’ve learnt so much professionally from this experience, even earning the opportunity to represent the university in an international recruitment tour in May 2017. It was a real treat to come back to College to represent my university and have the chance to talk to the boys about the benefits and advantages of a US education, as well as to show that you don’t need to be the next Einstein or Steven Adams to make a US education affordable (having graduated debt free through a combination of scholarship and on-campus jobs). What did you enjoy most at College and how did College set you up for the challenges of the past four years? Much like my time at university, what I enjoyed most at College was the number of opportunities given to the boys. Being able to find your strengths and weakness through the wide range of academic and sporting opportunities College provides, equipped me with the skills and abilities needed to succeed in a new and challenging environment much quicker than my peers. I would also be doing an injustice if I didn’t mention the incredible influence the teachers at College have had on my life, even 4–5 years after taking their classes or competing under their guidance. Teachers like Ginny Patterson, Elaine Tang, Graeme Christey and Ian Stevenson showed me early on how to not only succeed in any field, but also how to push myself to my full potential. Funnily
enough, I was reminded about Ms Patterson’s influence a few weeks ago when, as I was halfway through writing my Statement of Purpose (essentially a letter of intent to study at graduate level), I was reminded of her many mantras to never let the “alot” monster rear its ugly head in your writing. (If you have no idea what I’m talking about, Google “the alot monster” and it’ll all make sense!) This may seem insignificant to someone else, but to me, it is a prime example of the continued impact and influence these College educators have had, and are continuing to have, on my life. Where have you decided to study for your postgraduate degree and why? In order to become better equipped for the business world, and to fulfil the educational requirements necessary to gain a professional licence in accounting in the US, I’ve decided to do a masters degree. I have accepted an offer to attend Cornell University to undertake a Master of Professional Studies in Management – Accounting. This gives me the benefit of building on the knowledge I have learnt with my undergraduate degree in Accounting, whilst also preparing me in the best way possible for the professional world. Studying at top institutions in the US not only gives you rich teaching from academics, but also inducts you into their influential networks of professional alumni.
Have you always set yourself short-term and long-term goals? Always! You’ll be hard pressed to find an international student here in the US that didn’t have to learn early on to set short term and long term goals in order to get here. Especially when you think that if you don’t know where you’re going, how can you expect to know how to get there! Even if you have no clue what you want to be doing in 5–10 years, you can still set goals to prepare yourself for a number of possibilities, and this can even be achieved during your time at College. It wasn’t until the third term of Year 13 that I realised what I wanted to study at the tertiary level. Fortunately, I had planned for such a realisation to come quite late, so I had planned to take a range of subjects at the senior level to cover all bases. It’s okay to not know if you want to be a doctor, or a lawyer, or an accountant by the end of Year 10. Having a range of classes, from languages to sciences to the humanities, gives you the ability to plan for the short term, even if the long term is out of sight! What difference will having the D and HM Tripp Travelling Scholarship make to your coming year, 2018? Anywhere you go, postgraduate study can be a drain on your finances. Simply because it is an investment in your future, and the benefits of postgraduate study are so large, the cost of attending a top institution can be costly. Being awarded a D and HM Tripp Travelling Scholarship has given me the ability to pursue a degree in the best programme available, without being bogged down as much by the potential cost. I will have the opportunity now to attend the top schools, embrace all the opportunities available and become the best professional I can be.
“Teachers like Ginny Patterson, Elaine Tang,Graeme Christey and Ian Stevenson showedme early on how to not only succeed in any field, but also how to pushmyself tomy full potential.” Angus McKenzie
College Issue 34 2018
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