Academic Goal & Careers Goal:
I initially decided to study in Australia in Year 10 to prepare myself for my intention of studying Aviation in South Australia in University. My academic goal had been learning things that are useful in aviation in highschool, until I changed my career goal and committed to Aerospace Engineering instead. Since then, I have been studying hard in Physics and Maths in order to give myself sufficient background knowledge, as well as critical thinking skills, that are important to Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering.
How does our AAS Consultant assist you?
My consultant Sheri and Wendy assisted me with basically every process along the way, such as visa application, choosing a suitable school, accommodations, and general advice-giving. They have been an incredible help and me and my family would have struggled heavily without them.
The difference between the Education Culture of HK and AUS?
I found the education culture to be very different. In Australia, the teachers make effort to ingrain important values into students outside of normal academic classes, for example every year we have a week where we discuss what respectful relationships means to us and how do we engage with people in our lives to maintain a respectful relationship with them. The school would also invite speakers to talk about smoking and alcohol use, which are very helpful and memorable.
Do you enjoy school life?
I enjoy the different opportunities that my school gave me, and without these opportunities I would not be the person I am today. For three years, I have participated in sailing, which is a sport I would never have gotten in if I studied in Hong Kong. I got into a rock band and the senior vocal ensemble. I have never had interest in singing before Year 11, and when I signed up for rock band, I was greeted with encouragement and support. It is because of my mates from my rock band and the vocal ensemble, as well as the teachers who taught me proper singing techniques that made me a confident singer. In year 12, I got to be one of the school prefects, and the role gave me incredible insight into how the school was run, how different events were being carried out, and most importantly what it was like to be a leader. The experiences of being a prefect prepared me for the future, and I enjoyed my school life.
Do you have tips for future students and parents before they plan to study in Aus?
I suggest future students to decide for themselves what they would like to achieve in the new environment, instead of simply going along with their parents’ plan of sending them overseas. Having the correct mindset before planning to go study overseas is important, as it is up to the students to make the most of the opportunities given to them.
Does overseas education help in your academics?
In Year 11-12, I studied the International Baccalaureate (IB) course instead of the local SACE course. The course has given me many challenges and pushed me to interact with people in the field of study, as well as prepared me for university-like assessments. Furthermore, I personally think overseas education promote criticalm thinking skills more so than Hong Kong’s traditional style of teaching. For example, students are encouraged to analyse literature and explain in detail what the author might be communicating to the readers in a short period of time.