The freedom to be me and pursue more than I ever thought possible

If you’d told me a few years ago that I’d be studying Secondary Education at the University of Sydney, developing my own podcast and returning to my old school as a volunteer reader/writer, I never would have believed you. Before finding ET Australia, I hated school, was bullied for being different and had no intention of completing Year 12.  

I started at ET halfway through Year 10 after leaving a private Christian school where things had become increasingly restrictive. Over time, the environment grew more conservative and less accepting, and I found myself feeling unable to express who I really was. By early Year 10, I was on the verge of dropping out altogether. 

When my parents discovered ET Australia Secondary College, they immediately thought it sounded like the kind of place where I would be supported – a school where students were treated as individuals and encouraged to be themselves. I didn’t know what to expect, but from the moment I stepped onto campus for a tour, I felt something shift.  

‘Walking into ET felt like stepping into a place where individuality wasn’t just allowed – it was encouraged and respected.’ 

My first impressions grew stronger once I started attending. The teachers treated students like equals, not subordinates. The environment was open, expressive and warm – a kind of organised chaos where every student felt comfortable being themselves. Teachers didn’t hide behind formality. They were genuine, approachable and incredibly passionate about their subjects. For the first time, I wasn’t stressed about how I presented or who I was. I could express myself openly, including through some pretty outrageous outfits and hair colours. Coming from an environment where self-expression had consequences, this was life-changing for me. 

Of course, no school experience is without challenges. Early on, I experienced an instance of bullying. I expected the usual response – a meeting, some vague assurances but no real change. Instead, ET dealt with it immediately. Within a day it was resolved. When the school said, ‘zero tolerance’, they meant it. That was a defining moment for me. I knew they had my back. 

‘My mentor genuinely believed in my potential – even when I didn’t.’ 

Academically, ET pushed me to aim higher than I thought possible. In Year 12, every student was paired with a mentor who met with us weekly to go through our study plans, wellbeing and exam prep. Tony, my mentor and the head of the college, worked through my HSC subjects with me, checked in on how I was coping and genuinely believed in my potential – even when I didn’t. I went from doubting whether I would even finish school to achieving results I was genuinely proud of. 

My teachers also helped shape my future in ways I never expected. I had originally planned to pursue forensic science, but their passion for teaching inspired me to want to become a high school teacher too. Once I’ve completed my Bachelor of Secondary Education, I hope to go on to complete a doctorate in neuropsychology. 

I finished my first year at uni feeling capable and proud. I’ve also started developing a university podcast, the ‘Goth Radio Show’, with a friend. It’s a niche, creative project I never would have had the confidence to start without ET encouraging me, year after year, to embrace who I am. 

‘ET doesn’t push any particular ideology or agenda; they encourage you to just be yourself. Once I realised that, everything else became possible.’ 

In 2025, I returned to ET as a volunteer reader/writer for the HSC exams. Supporting two students through such a stressful time reminded me of how much the college shaped me, and how meaningful it is to give back. It also felt like a small preview of the teacher I hope to become. 

I’m proudest of how far I’ve come – not just academically, but personally. I went from someone who thought they might drop out, to someone studying at a top university, building creative projects and planning a future in teaching and neuropsychology. 

If I could give one piece of advice to any student struggling in an environment that doesn’t fit who they are, it’s this: Go where you feel supported to be yourself. For me, that place was ET Australia.