Jack Li (China) - Epping Boys High School

I remember the cloudless sky, merging with the ocean at the end of the horizon. The distant waves rose and fell like the beating of a giant heart, calm but ever-present, gently kissing the golden shoreline with soft splashes of white.

On a study tour to Sydney in 2017, my 11-year-old-self sat on a bench, staring into this bright palette of the world in front of me. A soft sea breeze warmed and wafted past my cheeks; a seed was planted in my heart.

After two terms of studying at Chatswood Intensive English Centre, I began my journey as an international student at Epping Boys High School (EBHS) in January 2019. The beginning was not easy, with language and cultural barriers to overcome. But thankfully, my school had an entire team dedicated to improving the transitioning experience of international students. This abundance of support allowed me to quickly adapt to the Australian culture. I threw myself into almost everything I could during my time in high school: performing in music ensembles, winning championships with the school's badminton and basketball teams, earning the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award, being listed in the EBHS Honour Book, serving as a sporting house captain, wellbeing captain, journalist, mentor, prefect and the list goes on.

One of my proudest achievements was being elected as the Student Representative Council (SRC) President. In this role, I led campaigns raising awareness of teenagers impacted by autism, disabilities and cancer, financially supporting non-profit organisations through bake sales, movie nights and raffle draws. I also had the privilege to lead the organisation of one of the school's largest fundraising campaigns, bringing together local MPs, councillors, school staff, and 100 students to either shave their heads or dye their hair in support of those fighting leukemia. This World's Greatest Shave campaign raised over $40,000 for the Leukemia Foundation, helping bring greater public awareness to the prevalence of leukemia.

I love playing sports, hiking and travelling in my free time. Luckily, NSW offers the perfect weather for these activities all year long, so this is the place-to-be for me.

I am currently studying a Bachelor of Biomedical Engineering (Honours) as a Dalyell Scholar at the University of Sydney. I aspire to build a career in the biomedical field, where I can make a meaningful impact by developing ethical, innovative, and effective medical technology.

If you are a future student coming to study at a NSW Government School, I encourage you to get involved in all kinds of activities within your school and the broader NSW community. Remember, the more you put in, the more you get out, so strive to make the most of your time with the endless opportunities that NSW has to offer.

The seed that took root in my heart has since blossomed into some of the most beautiful moments of my life.