DEC International Students Awards Ceremony 2014
Simon Wong, Malaysia: In my opinion the best thing about studying at a
New South Wales Government School would definitely have to be
just the whole experience itself.
I mean, when I first came to Sydney
about two years ago I was just clueless.
I had no idea where I was in this big city but,
thanks to the help of my teachers and my friends
I’ve managed to settle down here so that’s really good.
Shu Ken (Kenneth) Lu, Hong Kong: The amount of support that you get in a
New South Wales Government High School,
like throughout my two years here,
I’ve been able to receive a lot of support services like careers advice.
Cherry Bo Fernandez, Philippines: You mature as a person,
especially when you come here when you’re younger,
because you leave alone but then you have the courage to meet new friends
and build relationships.
Xi Hallie Yang, China: The teachers are all really patient
and whenever you need them they’re always there for you
and I think the school, I’ve been to Killarney Heights,
all the teachers put their heart and souls into teaching us and helping us.
Kenneth: So my studies in a New South Wales Government School
have prepared me really well for starting university
and I feel that it has helped me prepare a lot so that now I’m progressing
onto a later stage of my life
which is to start medicine at UNSW [University of New South Wales].
Simon: For students who are wishing to study in Australia, I would just say
‘go for it’.
It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity,
if you have the chance to do it, go for it.
It definitely gives you a whole different insight
into life outside of your home country.
Hallie: My advice on studying at a
New South Wales Government High School is,
you just come and you can fit in it naturally and,
don’t worry and you’ll be OK and there are people there to help you.
Jinglin Wang, China: My studies at a
New South Wales Government High School
have helped prepare me so well that I’m now studying
Commerce at the University of Sydney.
Simon: My studies at a New South Wales Government School
have been such as successful one that I’ve managed to get into
the University of Sydney and I’m currently studying a
Bachelor of Music in Education.
Hallie: I’m now going to study at the
University of Sydney and have a combined degree of
Engineering and Commerce.
Cherry: It is very amazing to come in Australia because
I would never have thought that I would learn so much stuff and,
especially the variety of people that you meet and the culture,
how colourful it is.
Jinglin: My experience at Australia really transformed me
from a daughter who’s always depended on their parents
to a very independent woman.
Simon: I enjoy the lifestyle here.
I embrace the Australian lifestyle and
I actually probably call it my second home.
Her Excellency Professor The Honourable Marie Bashir AC CVO Governor of NSW:
You’ve left your families many of you and friends in your home countries,
confronted considerable language and cultural challenges and
gone ahead and made new friends and become
active members of your school committees.
Faced the challenges of course that all students have,
in working towards enlightenment and success,
becoming citizens of the world in fact and as international students,
integrating into a school community,
different from one from which you came.
So you overcame many, many hurdles and
I hope you felt very, very welcome because
we’re grateful to you for coming here.
You became important members of your school communities.
And you’re here today because you’ve excelled,
achieving outstanding results in the 2013 Higher School Certificate.
[International Student Ambassadors]
Snow: Hello everyone, my name is Snow Li,
I graduated from Killarney Heights High School four years ago and
now I’m studying a law degree and this is my final year
at the University of Sydney.
Linh: Hello everyone my name is Linh Chu,
I graduated from Kogarah High School two years ago and
I’m currently in my third year at the
University of Sydney doing Chemical Engineering and Maths.
Sadika: Hi Everyone, my name is Sadika, I’m from Bangladesh,
I graduated from Beverly Hills Girls High School,
currently I’m studying Science and Education at Macquarie University,
this is my last year of my degree.
Vivian: Good afternoon everyone, I’m Vivian Quang,
I’m from Vietnam, I graduated from Chester Hill High School
four years ago and currently I’m completing a Bachelor of
Pharmacy at the University of Sydney.
David: My name’s David, I’m from China as well and
I graduated two years ago from Killarney Heights High School and
I’m doing medicine in the University of New South Wales [NSW]
[Yi Chen (Jen) Liu, Beverly Hills Girls High School School Service and Academic Achievement Awards Nominee]
[Mahan Ghobadi, Georges River College, Oatley Senior Campus Playing on a Tonbak drum, a Persian (Iranian) instrument]
Melody Wang, International Student Ambassador: Thank you Your Excellency
for presenting our awards today.
It is a great honour for these students
to receive these awards from you.
Thank you very much.