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S tudent Voice

high school, it was a big change to be I know for a fact that my passion for but I hope somewhere not too far away.
constantly surrounded by people, let these subjects wouldn’t be as strong
alone people my own age. as they are without all her patience What advice would you give to school
and encouragement throughout the students facing challenging personal
Despite all the change though, I years. Further, she introduced me to circumstances who dream of a
absolutely loved it! I thought that I and encouraged me to fall in love with university education and a meaningful
would visit home each week but that the arts! You don’t get many science career?
definitely didn’t end up happening since students who have done more arts
I was so busy. Of course, as COVID subjects (philosophy and politics) than I would say, ‘Don’t be scared. Give it a
came around in later years I didn’t end science subjects (biology, physics, go!’ I’ve met a lot of people who have
up going out as much (or at all) but chemistry), yet I probably have done avoided university because they’re
still being around so many friends was enough to almost qualify for an arts afraid that it isn’t for them or that they’re
unbelievably amazing. degree. I’m so grateful to have had her just not sure what they want to do.
pull me out from being a science student The reality is that no one is really sure
Can you nominate any individuals or closed off from the social world to now about what they want to do – we’re
experiences that you feel have had a having arts as a central part of my life. all just winging it. I didn’t really know
significant influence on you and your We’ve been dating for almost three years what doing a maths degree would be
outlook on life? now. like until I did it, and some of my peers
are working towards completing their
Of course, without a doubt, the Looking ahead, what are your career three-year bachelor’s degree in hopes of
individual who influenced me the aspirations? getting into a law degree or a medicine
most was my first-year Manifold degree without even knowing if they’ll
wing neighbour and now girlfriend My dream is to become an academic like it once they’re in.
Susan. I met Susan in first year and in the field of Pure Mathematics. In
we started dating a couple of months particular, I am interested in a field of At university the journey is the most
later. I remember coming home from mathematics called ‘Group Theory’ important and enjoyable part, so don’t
University every night and hoping that which investigates the concept of stress too much about what will come
her door was open so we could chat symmetry and how we can develop from it – I promise that you will enjoy it.
all about what we had learnt during the mathematical tools to better understand
day. Even though she wasn’t super- how objects are symmetrical. I will If you had to summarise your approach
duper interested in mathematics and begin my master’s degree next year to life in just three words, what would
philosophy, she’d listen to me waffle at the University of Melbourne and those words be?
about ethics and numbers and whatever following that my PhD somewhere in the
else I was thinking about at the time. world – I haven’t thought that far ahead Smile, relax, persist!

Intercollegiate Rowing Regatta 2021

In her own inimitable fashion, mascot suit, like his own personal vinyl their bands of colour (representing their
JCH student Brigitte Shill, recalls sauna, unable to make the internal fan colleges).
the challenges and joys of the 2021 work. And I do remember the rush of
Intercollegiate Rowing Regatta. joy looking around and knowing that I admit that my most enduring memory
I belong to this vibrant intercollegiate is the feeling of pride to be a member of
Janet Clarke Hall has a proud tradition of community: two and a half thousand the JCH tribe, small in number but huge
colliding with things in the intercollegiate aspirational young adults cheering on in enthusiasm, who cheered for us as
rowing competition. the Yarra bank, most of them wearing their heroes on that day.

In 2019, the women’s eight hit the Swan
Street Bridge. After all, if you’re not
going to win, at least be memorable.
I was the women’s cox in 2021 and,
although I missed the bridge, I did
manage a direct hit on the Queen’s
College boat. They were in our lane, so
not my fault really, though we had no
cox box and hadn’t quite mastered our
rhythm. We rocked our new wetsuit-
leotard fusions and placed a very
respectable second … in our heat.

We don’t have to talk about
where we placed in the final.
I’m sure I don’t remember. But I do
remember Luke Franz sweating in his

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