High schooler goes from coast to campus

MORE than a decade of volunteering has earned year twelve student Alisha Rowden an early offer to university.

The Victory Christian College pupil will next year join La Trobe University Bendigo to study a bachelor of education (primary) as part of the institution’s Aspire Program.

The program gives conditional offers to young people involved in community, leadership and volunteer roles before they even sit their VCE exams.

Ms Rowden’s university studies will build on her 11 years volunteering with the Venus Bay Surf Lifesaving Club and working with young people in Life Saving Victoria’s Nippers program.

“I chose to study primary education because helping with the Nippers program brought out how much I enjoy working with children,” she said.

“Every year seeing the children in the Nippers program come back older and more skilful, and watching them grow throughout the season, is really rewarding.”

Ms Rowden said it felt “really good” to be recognised for her volunteering, and the early offer encouraged her to push through challenging times.

“I like knowing that people have trust in me. It makes me feel like a leader, and has also helped me mature a lot,” she said.

“Coming in and out of lockdown has been really hard but now that I know I have this Aspire offer, it is giving me more motivation to keep going.”

Ms Rowden is one of 117 regional Victorian students to so far receive an early offer to La Trobe, with Aspire Program applications still open until 17 September.

A total 515 early offers have been sent out and La Trobe deputy vice-chancellor Professor Richard Speed said they could give students some assurance.

“We’re all feeling for this cohort of year 12 students, who have completed the final two years of their secondary schooling in really challenging circumstances,” he said.

“Though this won’t replace the hours of missed face-to-face classes, or cancelled social and sporting events, it will hopefully give them a bit more certainty for their future, at a time when many are feeling anxious.”