Page 39 - Luce 2024

A l umni News A l umni News

Allegra believe I am living and working in College, we had found a sublet in
McCormack Japan. I am looking forward to pursuing the top floor of a Victorian era white
(2018) further postgrad study, either back in stucco terrace and commuted to work
I remember Melbourne or in another city, yet again. through Hyde Park. We ‘prommed’ at
my first night But I am glad that I took somewhat of a Royal Albert Hall and met Larry the
at JCH very detour on my five-year plan and ended Cat at Downing Street.
clearly. The up here.
first day of I do have an update on one of the
O-Week My first night in my new city, exhausted bigger dramas I caused at JCH back in
had been a from a whirlwind orientation and 2009. The late night ER visit with then
nervous, giddy introducing myself to hundreds of Vice-Principal, Donna Davies, and
blur. I’d met strangers, I kept thinking about those resultant kidney failure diagnosis did
so many people and, in the day’s rush, first few weeks at JCH. I felt like a little to stop me. The kidney transplant
could recall about five of their names fresher all over again. Having to learn which for 10 years hadn’t been an
with confidence. I remember the first new things, make new friends, figure issue, suddenly became very relevant
time I was alone that day. Sitting in a out a brand new public transport during the COVID-19 pandemic in
room that had been labelled as mine, system. I felt the same disbelief and London. Increasingly urgent and
it still felt as though it belonged to vague terror that I’d even been allowed serious letters were appearing at the
a stranger. I remember feeling like a to partake in this new experience. door from the UK Government’s
trespasser. I couldn’t have imagined And, thinking back to the strong and Health Secretary, stating that I was
how familiar the College would welcoming foundation JCH provided, ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’
become over the course of my degree. I knew that I would be just fine. and should not leave the house. A
Looking back, it’s almost unbelievable food ration was delivered, but that
how many happy memories are Dr Catherine started to run out, and being number
crammed into the two years I lived Wheller (2009) 478,492 (actual number) in the online
in JCH. I completed supermarket queue, we were happy to
my Bachelor finally be allocated our supermarket. It
Like a lot of people, I came to College of Science felt like being part of a war effort. The
with a plan. And, like a lot of people, (Honours) in sirens were constant.
I realised the plan needed to change. Geology and
The world was a lot bigger, with so then went With the imminent (and early) re-
many more opportunities, than I could on to do a emergence of life in London in early
see from high school. My time in JCH, PhD working 2021, we made the decision to race
supported by amazing tutors, helped on what the back to safer Australia. Having used
me realise my love of history. It crept thermodynamic London as an experimental phase
into my degree; first as a minor and properties of minerals tell us about to find my career pivot, I was ready
then a major, followed by an honours how a rock was formed. The work to come back to Melbourne with a
thesis. I chose to write my thesis on took me to southern Madagascar to concrete goal in mind. Where can I
the construction of Singaporean explore for rocks with a specific mineral have the most impact in increasing
identity prior to the nation’s configuration along the edge of an science literacy and accessibility?
independence in 1965, as recalled ancient puzzle piece; the join between
through the oral history of self- two plates of east and west Gondwana. I now engage with young STEM
identified Singaporean women. enthusiasts at the not-for-profit
I enjoyed the communication of my National Youth Science Forum, and
Alongside my thesis I undertook work; learning how to craft a story and aim to create accessible communities
several internships focused on the carry a message. I took an opportunity that connect young people with
digitisation and preservation of to live in London and work at the careers and pathways they’ve never
archival material in institutions such Natural History Museum, employed heard of before. In January 2024, 68%
as International House and Cancer to create a communication strategy of participants were young women or
Council Victoria. After graduating, I that would translate the vital work of gender-diverse, and 45% were from
planned to continue with postgraduate a mass drug administration trial aimed regional or rural areas. I’m incredibly
study. But, as the COVID-19 pandemic at eliminating intestinal worms. No proud of this work and this team.
restrictions disappeared and the world longer working with rocks, and with
opened up again, I felt a familiar a developing expertise in strategically Looking forward, I’m keen to increase
realisation that the plan needed to communicating with many audiences, I my education and experience in
change again. later joined University College London leadership and governance. I’ve
to work on communicating the ethics completed the Homeward Bound
I was honoured to be selected as an of AI and the ‘Internet of Things’ in an program with 100 other women from
assistant language teacher for the JET increasingly connected world. around the world, and I am a graduate
Program in 2023. I am currently living of the Foundations of Directorship
in a Kõnosu, a small city in Saitama This time in London was incredible. course run by the Australian Institute of
famous for flowers and fireworks. Living with a partner who had also Company Directors.
Even after six months I still can’t quite moved to London for a stint at Imperial

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