My education has been fuelled by agency and self-directed learning, taking every opportunity to extend myself beyond curricular activities.
Attending my local primary school gave me the social, collaborative and displine skills I needed to thrive throughout my school journey. It also instilled in me a deep curiosity and love for learning.
“True education is not merely the transmission of facts, but the cultivation of agency and the lifelong desire to ask better questions.”
Homeschooling developed a great level of agency and self-direction in me. I largely managed my own time and studies, and also had many opportunities to network with other learners through regular gatherings. Most of all, I learnt that life is a learning journey, not constrained to schools or curriculums, and that every experience is as valuable as you make it. I also had much time to invest in hobbies such as music, electronics and software development.
Returning to senior school, I have been exposed to (and engaged with) many new and specialised opportunities. These include co-designed subjects, student initiatives, strategic planning groups, competitions and presentations from leaders in STEM. At the ASMS, I have also demonstrated exemplary academic performance, with top grades in nearly all subjects, including Stage 2 Mathematical Methods and a Cert III in IT, which I am undertaking on top of my full Year 11 workload.
A few more details about how I got to where I am, and where I hope to go.
Besides my general childhood aptitude for building things and solving problems, my first real step into STEM was trying to program a video game on a Raspberry Pi (with a manual). It wasn't fully successful, but it sparked a passion for technology and programming that has driven much since.
I've taught myself programming languages and frameworks for mobile apps, web design, data analysis, microelectronics, and machine learning, and custom-designed an electric guitar pedal from scratch, soldering every component. More recently, I have turned my attention to neuroscience and its intersection with computer science at artificial intelligence.
I have always tried to take on a more 'applied' approach to learning, which the ASMS has greatly supported. The ASMS teaches inter-disciplinary “central studies” - traditional disciplines woven together under themes like ‘Order from Chaos’. My Co-Design subject let me build my own central studies independently, from scratch. This developed my agency and pointed me toward AI and neuroscience research.
After Year 12 I plan to study at university. I'm currently interested in the ANU Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours), a research degree which would support me to develop my interests in computer and neuroscience (and perhaps their intersection at AI). I am exploring what a career in research would look like - an opportunity to exercise my immense curiosity and agency, perhaps?