Profile
With a strong interest in natural sciences and the environment, Steven was keen to pursue higher education at an internationally recognised university.
He knew the best way to achieve this would be to complete a senior secondary certificate that gave him a head start on the specialist subject knowledge he would need, as well as relevant language skills.
‘There are many pathways to the world’s top universities but the VCE provided the shortest path from high school to undergraduate studies,’ says Steven. ‘The VCE not only teaches English skills, it also provides a broad variety of subjects to choose from. Studying my preferred subjects meant I could enjoy learning about topics that interested me while gaining the prerequisites for my university degree.’
Steven recognises another important benefit of the VCE. He says, ‘On top of learning the knowledge and skills that interest me and relate most to my career aspirations, I was also able to practise and improve my English, familiarise myself with the Australian education system, and develop a deep understanding of Australian and international cultures – all through the VCE program.’
One of the particular challenges Steven found was the gap between his local curriculum and the VCE program. ‘My local education system doesn’t teach critical thinking so I struggled to write English essays,’ says Steven. However, he persevered and that hard work and learning helped prepare him for higher education at one of Australia’s top Group of 8 universities.
After first completing a bachelor degree, Steven is now undertaking a doctorate in civil engineering. Steven says, ‘As a civil engineering PhD student researching stormwater wetlands, my goal is to devote myself to environment-related work and use my capabilities to make our world a better and more liveable place for all people.’
Steven reflects on how the VCE was the first crucial stepping stone on his path to academic and professional success. ‘VCE gave me a global perspective and opened up international opportunities for me. The subject knowledge and critical thinking skills have been essential to achieving my dreams,’ he says.
For students thinking about enrolling in VCE, Steven’s advice is to study hard and enjoy your learning. Steven says, ‘The VCE would never be a wrong choice. The subjects are not only interesting and fun, they will also teach you a wide range of hard and soft skills that will benefit you for life.’