Recently, I attended the Young ChangeMakers program hosted by the University of Queensland, a thrilling experience that has left an extremely positive lasting impact on my life. From the first day, I was welcomed into a community of inspirational, like-minded individuals passionate about building a better tomorrow.

The program was designed to challenge and provoke innovative thoughts, forcing me to think outside the box and consider problems from all angles. Through various intriguing lectures and tutorials, we were given the opportunity to collaborate and explore multiple fields of study at UQ, including a special visit to the “Queensland Brain Institute”. As well as immersing ourselves in various career pathways (eg. engineering, medicine, biophysics, law), we attended inspirational lectures focused on leadership and innovation in the real world, including a speech from Professor Peter Greste titled, ‘Resilience in the Face of Adversity’.

Another highlight of the camp was networking with enthusiastic individuals already studying/or wanting to study in my desired field. These connections opened my mind to more possibilities at university, revealing a variety of career pathways and providing invaluable advice.

I highly recommend this program to other students.

Applications for the 2024 UQ Young ChangeMakers Program open in May. Please see Dean of Senior School, Mrs Allen, if you are interested. The program is open to Year 11 students.

Zain Ali
Shalom College Vice Captain, 2024