Two Gunnedah teens have come back from their holidays with new friends and new ideas.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
St Mary's College students Angus Taylor and Robert Leggat both headed off to summer school last month to get a taste of careers in engineering and cyber security.
Angus went up north to the University of Brisbane for the National Youth Science Forum’s Year 12 program, while Robert spent 10 days at the National Computer Science School at the University of Sydney.
Read also:
Both Year 12 students came away with a different perception than they had left with.
Angus had originally hoped to pursue aeronautical engineering because of his lifelong love of planes but the reality didn't line up with his concept.
"I thought 'I couldn't do this job'," Angus said.
"It's basically physics and Maths through a CAD program, sitting behind a computer all day.
"It wasn't what I thought it would be."
However, Angus discovered a new interest while he was there - visual optics. He said a visit to Queensland University of Technology's Contact Lens and Visual Optics Laboratory caught his attention because he was born "legally blind" in one eye.
"Immediately, I became engaged because if I lose my good eye, I wouldn't be able to drive with one eye," Angus said.
Angus was also impressed by his peers who were "hard-working" and "genuine".
"All of them had a passion and were working towards it," he said.
It was the best experience I think I've ever had.
- Robert Leggat
Robert was pleasantly surprised by his experience after originally having a "bleak outlook" on university, with plans to pursue study through another avenue.
"After spending 10 days at university … it's opened a new life to me and showed me how much fun it can be," he said.
"[I loved] being in an atmosphere and environment with people who want to do the same thing as you.
"It was amazing, honestly. It was the best experience I think I've ever had."
Robert said he learnt things he didn't expect such as lock-picking, which was used to teach the students that physical security can be just as important as cyber security.
"People don't believe me when I tell them [I learnt that]," he said.
Both teens made friends and are keeping in touch with them using social media.
"Meeting and spending time with people for 10 days, that made it really memorable and I have friends now that I'm still communicating with and I'll meet up with," Robert said.
Angus is even looking at house-sharing with his new friends when he moves to Sydney after the Higher School Certificate this year.
