NAME:
Amber Forster
HOMETOWN:
Blayney NSW
UNIVERSITY:
RMIT
COURSE:
Associate Degree in Engineering Technology
LOCAL FOUNDATION:
County Education Foundation of Orange & Districts
Hailing from a property near the small country town of Blayney in Central West NSW, Amber Forster is one of five children. She is proud to proclaim she is the middle child, and early this year left her family, travelling 1000’s of kilometres to attend university in Melbourne.
With an interest in engineering but uncertainty about which area to major in, Amber is undertaking a flexible first year of an Associate Degree in Engineering technology at RMIT in Melbourne. She says this is a great option for ‘people like her’ and that it gives ‘a taste into a bunch of areas of engineering.’
COVID-19, THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE
Amber says that like many, many others, the pandemic was by far the biggest challenge she faced this year when starting her tertiary study journey.
After making the long haul to Melbourne from Blayney, she found herself almost immediately isolated, both physically and socially.
Although quarantined, Amber still needed to adjust to and contend with online studies.
She says her proudest moment this year was seeing a group project come together and receiving a really good mark. “Doing a group project via online communication with people you have yet to meet was no easy task.”
I felt I wasn’t getting the full ‘uni experience’ where I could meet new friends and attend physical classes.
SUPPORT NETWORK VITAL TO RESILIENCE
I will persevere
Despite these difficult times, Amber is grateful for the support she has received from the university, her family and Rotary Club of Blayney via CEF of Orange & Districts.
The grant she received assisted her in buying a new laptop, which this year more than ever, was crucial to academic success with all classes being delivered online.
AMBER’S ADVICE FOR COUNTRY STUDENTS
Amber is emphatic when asked for her advice to other regional students.
“Don’t be afraid to move away from your hometown. Even if the idea of moving is scary and daunting, make the move!”
She believes that life is short, and like her, others will surprise themselves at how independent they can really be.
Your hometown isn’t going anywhere, so if you move and hate it, you can always come back. It’s the experience that counts.
Best playlist for concentrating?
Anything instrumental; the less lyrics the better
Favourite place for coffee or tea?
Outside with the dogs
Last book you read?
A Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Fantasy study group?
Marcel Duchamp
Rosa Parks
George Orwell
Leonardo DiCaprio
Anne Frank
How would you spend your last $10?
On food! Maybe a pizza.
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