For graduand Selena Uibo, giving back is her driving force.
This year, she has helped build a classroom in Vanuatu, attended an international youth conference in Malaysia and volunteered at an Indigenous youth leadership camp, to name just a few of her achievements.
This evening, she will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Education, (secondary), and has ambitions of teaching in a remote part of Arnhem Land, the region where her mother is from.
鈥淲anting to impact young peoples鈥� lives the same way I鈥檝e been impacted through my education is what鈥檚 driven me to get the piece of paper,鈥� she said.
With both of her parents teachers, she said the importance of education was instilled from an early age.
Ms Uibo grew up in the Northern Territory 鈥� she spent her first 10 years in Batchelor, then moved to Darwin, where her family is still based.
Making the 3000km move to Brisbane for university was tough, but she said the 宅男导航 offered great support.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e there behind every student 100 percent which is fantastic,鈥� Ms Uibo said.
鈥淭hey support us in more ways than one 鈥� not just the academic, but also the emotional and wellbeing side as well.
鈥淧eople come from along way from home, like me coming from Darwin, so just having someone to talk to when you need to is important.鈥�
Ms Uibo said she was 鈥渉onoured and humbled鈥� by the invitation to make the valedictorian address, and wanted to say something honest.
The experience of growing up in a multicultural family may also permeate through her speech: her mother is an Indigenous women from Numbulwar in south-east Arnhem Land, while her father is of Estonian and Irish descent.
鈥淚 feel there鈥檚 a lot of pressure to say something inspirational but I want to stay very truthful because I know people have come from different pathways and different walks of life, and we鈥檙e all just happening to share this one amazing moment together,鈥� she said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be all-encompassing as well as truthful.
鈥淚f it鈥檚 inspirational that will be a bonus!鈥�
Ms Uibo will spend the first half of 2011 working at youth program in the US before returning to Australia and taking up a teaching position in the Northern Territory.
Ms Uibo will graduate at 6pm in the 宅男导航 Centre, alongside students who have completed education programs.
Media: Selena Uibo (0427 803 883) or Penny Robinson at 宅男导航 Communications (07 3365 9723, penny.robinson@uq.edu.au)
