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C ouncil N ews

Keely Moggach (2019)
I would not have been able to live in
JCH and study music at the Melbourne
Conservatorium without the help of my
First in Family scholarship. I am eternally
grateful for the generosity of the donors.

My scholarship really gave me some
financial ‘breathing room’ as I found
my feet in Melbourne, began adjusting
to university life and found some
local work. Neither of my parents had
attended uni, and I found it difficult to
reach out for advice to people in my
particular situation.
Rachael Skerritt (2020) Stella Liu (2018)
Receiving the First in Family scholarship If I could share one thing with the Moving from home in Sydney for
was life-changing for me. It meant that scholarship donors, it would be the the first time, JCH provided me with
for the first time, I didn’t have to work to assurance that their work makes a a safe and welcoming environment
support myself – previously I worked 24 tremendous difference in the lives of where I was supported in my
hours a week, working evening shifts in students. For me it was also, in addition transition to university in a new
a lab to support myself during uni. Upon to alleviating financial strain, really city. The First in Family scholarship
starting at JCH as a third-year student, I was encouraging to feel that what I was allowed me to have the opportunity to
able to focus entirely on my studies. My trying to pursue was valued, encouraged live in JCH which I otherwise would
grades improved significantly, to around and endorsed. I found receiving my have struggled to afford.
90-95% in my final year. I was able to scholarship gave me a huge confidence
achieve my full academic potential as a boost which was something I really I would like to thank the donors
result of the scholarship. This also opened needed at that time. deeply for supporting me and
up a number of other opportunities for me, providing me the opportunity to
and I received a university prize for being attend JCH. This generosity has
the top student in Linguistics. Alaina D’Arcy (2020) allowed me to thrive as I pursued my
The cost of living in College and studying university dreams and I am on track
JCH also supported me immensely by at university is such a daunting obstacle, to become a clinician scientist, a
helping me prepare for interviews to study but through so much gracious generosity longstanding dream of mine.
medicine and providing support through I actually had the chance to do so
the application process. Being the first without the constant financial stress.
in my family to attend university means Janet Clarke Hall is without a shadow of
I never had family support to guide me a doubt the reason I feel I have grown
through my studies, and I really thrived in in the past four years. Coming from
the supportive academic environment that a background where access to university
is JCH. education truly was not an option, the
chance to broaden my horizons was
I am currently studying the Doctor of priceless. I feel that words cannot fully
Medicine degree at the University of express how fortunate I am to be part of
Sydney. Without the First in Family the JCH community.
scholarship, I don’t think I would have
obtained the grades to get into medicine. I wish there was a way that I could
Additionally, on the basis of the grades I demonstrate more fully how much of an
achieved during my time in JCH, I obtained impact scholarships like First in Family
a further scholarship from the University have on individual lives. My words on a
of Sydney worth $100,000, to support me piece of paper can only tell so much, but
throughout the four years of the MD. if there was a way I could capture the
moments of joy, strength, wonderment,
I look back on my time in JCH and I am gratitude and intense contentment that
enormously grateful for the scholarship have transformed my life in these past
support and opportunities I received. My four years (three of which were at JCH),
time there really set off a positive chain I would do so in a heartbeat.
reaction in my life, completely changing
my life trajectory.

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