Taste of uni life

By Tania Martin
TWO rising Emerald Secondary College stars will get a taste of university life this year after winning a spot on a scholarship program.
Year 11 students, Rebecca McLochlan of Selby and Aaron Reeve of Emerald, have booth been chosen for the Kwong Lee Young Scholarship program.
The program, run by Melbourne University, offers students a taste of tertiary education.
Both Rebecca and Aaron will be given numerous opportunities throughout the year to interact with the university and find out about the different educational programs it has to offer.
The student scholars will have exclusive access to study skills sessions, a career-focussed activity and tailored on-campus events including academic, social, cultural and sporting activities.
University vice-chancellor Professor Susan Elliott said that the scholars would have an excellent opportunity to experience what life is life for students at a university which is ranked number 27 in the world.
“For all these students the program will provide them with the perfect opportunity for them to mix with our current undergraduates, experience our facilities and sample life on the campus,” she said. “For some, it will be their first taste of the campus and we expect that it will be a memorable one.”
Aaron Reeve said he was excited about this chance to get a sneak preview of university life.
“It’s an awesome opportunity,” he said.
Aaron wants to do a course in physiotherapy and says finding out what Melbourne University has to offer was a great way to choose the right course.
“We can go to open days and we also get offered bonus viewing into different areas which helps you find out what you want to do,” he said.
At the time the scholarships were announced Aaron was overseas and was shocked to find out he had won a position on the program.
“It was funny because we were told we would be notified by a certain date by email but the email never came on that day,” he said
“Because I was overseas at the time with email my only form of communication, I thought I missed out but the email arrived five days later than it was supposed to and I was shocked to find out the results.”
Rebecca McLochlan said being chosen as one of the scholars was a great way for her to work out what university course she wants to do when she finishes school.
Despite not really knowing what she wants to study, Rebecca said she would like a career in the medical sector.
“I would really like to do something that I can travel with,” she said. “This program will help me choose a course and give me career advice on my options.”
Rebecca said she was very excited about participating in the program this year and said it was an opportunity of a lifetime to be given a helping hand to choose her career path.