Page 29 - Luce 2020

S tudent Voice

Julie Alkarra receives the Lynne Wannan
Prize from Hayden Raysmith & Terri
Bracks

ability to directly help people, is what
drew me to genetic counselling.

This profession will allow me to
empower people with the knowledge
of their genomes and help them
have better health outcomes. I am
particularly excited that my career will
enable me to use these skills to be a Kay Attali, Development Associate, reports
strong Indigenous voice in genetics
as well as give back. With genetics on JCH new arrival, Julie Alkarra
and personalised medicine becoming
increasingly important in the future of In 2021 we welcome to JCH Syrian Even though she missed her friends and
human health, I honestly don’t know refugee and Master of Pharmacy extended family Julie remembers this
where this path will lead me in the student, Julie Alkarra. ‘gap year’ as ‘quiet and peaceful, really
end but I am very excited to see what lovely’. She got a job stacking shelves in
unfolds in the future and help as many Julie has been awarded full College a supermarket while her brother worked
people as I can along the way. fees through a May Dunn Scholarship, in a hamburger factory owned by a
following a recommendation from neighbour.
What advice would you give today Western Chances, an organisation
to school students with aspirations which provides opportunities and With no end to the civil war in sight the
to rise above potentially limiting support for young people from family applied to come to Australia as
personal circumstances and pursue disadvantaged backgrounds in the refugees; they were accepted, arriving in
their dreams of university and western suburbs of Melbourne. Melbourne on 1 May 2016. When they
ultimately a meaningful career? first arrived they were accommodated
In 2011 Julie, her mother and younger in the western suburbs where they were
Anything is possible, all you have to brother were living in Damascus when able to stay close to family – Julia’s uncle
do is try! Especially if it is something the war broke out. Over the next few and his wife and four children have
you are passionate about. There is years, conditions deteriorated badly but been living in Australia for more than 20
always a way to achieve your goals, the family had no choice but to remain years, and they were able to help with
even if it doesn’t look like it at the where they were – they had no money refugee applications.
time. In high school I applied to the and nowhere else to go.
University of Melbourne as a joke With just basic English, Julie’s education
believing that I would never be good In 2015, Julie had just finished her first was put on hold – acceptance into
enough to get in. The joke was on year of Pharmacy studies at university Pharmacy required a higher level of
me in the end! I’ve grown so much, when the decisive moment came. A IELTS (International English Language
learnt so much, met so many amazing missile attack in their area hit a car in Testing System) than she had. But after
people along the way, that helped the street below their apartment causing a few months of hard work, excellent
make it all possible and I don’t regret a metal splinter to pierce the side of results enabled her to continue her
my decision for a second. Julie’s head. Living where they were in studies by the start of 2017.
Damascus had become too dangerous.
I can’t stress enough, it doesn’t matter The family decided to head across the Having gained her bachelor’s degree last
what it is, just give it a go and ask if border to the mountains of Lebanon year, Julie was determined to continue
you need help – just ask – people will where they had friends. With just a with her studies. However, the master’s
surprise you. Trust me, it’s worth it! few hours to get ready, they managed degree requires a year’s internship.
to hire a car, pack some clothes and Her first preference was for the Royal
Just as an aside, Shelley, I greatly enough food supplies for a day or two. Melbourne Hospital in Parkville – long
appreciate your taking the time They thought they would soon be hours and a long way from home in
to interview me. In a lot of ways I back. ‘Getting there was expensive; I the western suburbs in terms of travel
feel as though, through JCH and remember we had to stay in a motel the time. Julie waited until she knew that
the University, I am an informal first day because there was nowhere to she had been accepted at RMH, then
ambassador for my community and go and it cost a whole month’s salary. immediately applied (through Western
I hope I have shown everyone that Then a good friend there helped us Chances) for a residential scholarship at
there are always ways to achieve your rent a house in the mountains. We had JCH. After an interview with Dr Powell,
goals. to borrow money, which we managed she was accepted. Julia says that she has
to pay back after working a couple always dreamt of being in College, and
months’. that at last that dream has become a
reality. It’s been a long journey.

J anet Clarke Hall 29