In August 2013, I was in my final year of secondary education. I completed my final exams feeling confident. I was certain I would be receiving an offer to Bachelor of Science from the University of Melbourne come January. You can imagine my shock and devastation when the course I was offered wasn’t what I had expected!

But that moment of mixed feelings passed. I am now a proud and happy Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Hallmark Program) student at La Trobe University.

Shortly after offers were released, I received an email inviting me to participate in La Trobe’s Hallmark Program. The La Trobe Hallmark Program was explained to me as being an elite program for high achieving students who are passionate about learning. Having never thought of myself as particularly ‘high achieving’, the offer came as a surprise. I decided to accept the offer and became a part of the inaugural cohort. Since then, the Hallmark Program has contributed significantly to my life at University.

The Hallmark Program at La Trobe has opened the door to a variety of opportunities I wouldn’t have otherwise had. First and foremost, the Hallmark Program provided me with my first scholarship! From this scholarship, I have enjoyed subsidy payments toward a variety of Hallmark Program-related activities, including an international study tour and career mentoring.

One major highlight of the Hallmark program is the opportunity it presents for cross-disciplinary collaboration. The Hallmark Program is open to students in a number of different courses at La Trobe. As a result I have met many other high achieving students from different fields of study. I have also worked with them on some really exciting projects. Most prominently, I am involved with the research group associated with the Understanding Disease Research Focus Area of La Trobe University. We have recently launched an undergraduate research project exploring the effectiveness of the smoking-ban at La Trobe University. Networking with other disciplines as a part of the Hallmark Program has permitted our research project to be well rounded and complete.

In addition to offering academic and research experience, the Hallmark Program has offered me amazing opportunities for personal growth. Last year I attended the National Student Leadership Forum on Faith and Values in Canberra, which proved to be a life-changing experience. It was the first Forum I had ever attended and I wasn’t sure what to expect. Despite having a solid understanding of leadership prior to the Forum, I was surprised, challenged and changed. I was reminded of the importance of our personal faith and values in leadership and everyday life. Often leadership is thought of as a complex concept, which can take more than a lifetime to master. Yet through my experience at the Forum I have learned that leadership is as simple as realising and defining our faith and values and staying true to them. These are lessons I will never forget.

University is a huge learning experience, not only academically, but also personally. I have grown in knowledge, skills and wisdom. In year 12, I was anxious that I would never find a career I was passionate about. However my experiences in the Hallmark Program, coupled with my studies in Biomedical Science, at La Trobe University have assured me that my interests and a profession can meet together. I have big decisions ahead of me – choices about postgraduate study, and ultimately my career. All are intimidating. However, La Trobe University’s Hallmark program has given me confidence. I have been provided with all the opportunities I need to succeed. I look forward to the future with optimism, and have truly been inspired to “be the difference”.

Uni Notes: empower your university journey!