YT Wong (Hong Kong SAR) - Cumberland High School

Hi, I'm YT, winner of the NSW International Student of the Year Award 2023, and I will share with you my amazing experience as an international student in NSW.

I had always been interested in studying abroad to experience different cultures and gain unique life experiences. Back in 2017, I had the opportunity to travel to Sydney to visit my relatives, and I just fell in love with the culture and the vibes here in Australia. So I finally made the life changing decision to continue my high school studies in Sydney.

My time at Cumberland High School has been amazing. I got to participate in many extra-curricular activities, including concert band, vocal ensemble, peer tutoring, mock trial, and student librarian. Cumberland is unique with their extensive music programmme, where you get to undergo many music related initiatives, including Concert Nights, Music Camps and tours where I got to perform for local public schools. I had made lifelong friendships through this program, and it made my high school life very vibrant with many activities. Moreover, I had the opportunity to take on leadership roles to improve and contribute to the school community by being part of the Student Representative Council and leading the prefect cohort as School Captain. I gained essential skills such as communication, teamwork, and event organisation, as well as unique opportunities to network with like-minded individuals within and outside of school.

History was my favourite subject in school. Before arriving in Australia, I was not particularly invested in the subject. However, I was blessed with many amazing history teachers who incorporated cooperative learning, making studying history dynamic and fun with active participation and discussion in the classroom. They later became my friends and role models, which significantly boosted my interest in the subject. Later in Year 11, I took Modern History for the HSC to further explore the subject.

I am currently an aspiring data scientist and engineer studying at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) under a Bachelor of Engineering Honours degree majoring in Data Science. Aside from studies, I am focusing on volunteering and helping the community to give back to the people as a person who received lots of support through my life in high school.

I would highly recommend future and current international students to take on extracurricular activities and leadership positions to make good use of their high school lives and to gain lifelong friendships.