Profile
As a child, Cody’s hometown of Wenzhou seemed like the whole world to him. ‘At the age of ten, I felt that Wenzhou was big and had everything I needed,’ says Cody. ‘I could have spent all my life in Wenzhou.’
But when his truck driver father informed him that Wenzhou was actually a very small city, Cody became determined to see more of the world. He realised that studying abroad was an ideal way to do this, and that completing the VCE was key to broading his horizons.
‘Taking the VCE so I could then study overseas motivated me to step out of my comfort zone,’ says Cody. ‘The VCE lays the academic foundation for studying abroad. It makes the transition from a traditional Asian education style to a Western education style much easier.’
Another benefit of studying the VCE is the friendships that develop with other students who intend to study internationally. Cody says, ‘I am very grateful to have known other students who also went on to study in Australia. Knowing there were other VCE graduates from China here made me feel less alone and more confident about coming to an Australian university.’
Initially, studying the VCE in English was a challenge. ‘At the beginning I couldn’t always understand what our Australian teacher was saying and I was too shy to speak English in front of others,’ says Cody. ‘Fortunately, my English teacher helped me so speaking and understanding English became easier over time.’
Cody’s advice for students undertaking VCE is to manage their time wisely so they can keep on top of their studies. ‘Also,’ says Cody, ‘I highly recommend that students take part in volunteer activities too. Not only will you develop your problem-solving skills, you’ll learn so much about yourself and the world we live in.’
Cody is now completing his doctorate in robotics and mechatronics, as well as teaching at university level. He credits the VCE with providing a solid grounding for his future. ‘I would like to develop a career in the field of robotics, especially intelligent intralogistics robots and delivery mobile robots,’ says Cody. ‘My VCE subjects – including Mathematical Methods, Physics and Chemistry – really helped prepare me for my university studies and chosen career.’