BREE Frederick’s final years at high school proved that she loves a challenge.
While studying Japanese for her HSC, she realised her passion for languages and international studies could lead to bigger things.
During Year 11, Miss Frederick organised a homestay in Japan for three months and then worked in Malaysia as part of the Australian Chin Up Team to do humanitarian work for three weeks.
These experiences fortified her decision to undertake a degree in Bachelor of Arts/Business and early this year she was accepted into the University of New England in Armidale.
It was a perfect fit as Miss Frederick said she didn’t want to move to the city.
“I have a passion for language, so I’m majoring in languages for the arts, as part of my course,” she siad.
“I didn’t want to live in the city as I’m a country person at heart. I had heard about UNE, so I went along to the open day and I was sold.
“There’s a real community feel to the UNE campus and accommodation.”
The move from Port Macquarie to the University of New England was going to be costly.
Miss Frederick had heard about local grants, offered by the Hastings Education Fund, from her school and decided to apply for financial assistance to help cover accommodation and textbook costs.
“The cost of university study is one thing, but textbooks, travel and accommodation costs are quite high as well,” Miss Frederick said.
“My textbooks cost me $600 for the first trimester, which is really expensive. I’m really grateful that I received the grant. I don’t think I would have been able to afford to go to university without the extra assistance.”
Further study in a master’s degree program or a PhD is something that Miss Frederick hopes will take her overseas to disadvantaged communities.
“Over the next few years, I’ll get a better picture of what I want to do with my studies. I’m really interested in humanitarian work and working somewhere like the United Nations would be great. I’ll just have to wait and see,” she said.
For further information about the Hastings Education Fund, contact chairman Peter Cuskelly on 6582 2429.
