What motivated you to study a Bachelor’s degree in Economics in the United States?
Universities in the US provide a very unique pairing of rigorous academics and elite-level athletics programs that are difficult to find anywhere else in the world. As a Grammar girl I was able to explore many avenues of interest athletically, academically and musically. In my final two years at BGGS I became particularly passionate about Economics and Rowing. I wanted to pursue these two passions concurrently at the highest level possible, and the US college system provided an ideal environment in which to do so.
Harvard’s admission standards are renowned for being rigorous with only 4.6 per cent of applications accepted. Do you think there was something in particular that made your application stand out?
I think my grades and dedication to Economics under the tutelage of Deputy Principal (Academic), Dr Bruce Addison, definitely supported my academic application. However, my Under-19 Lightweight 2k Erg Australian Record was likely the distinguishing factor for the Harvard Admissions Board and Rowing Coach. Rowing demonstrates the reward found in setting and achieving goals, while also developing important personal attributes such as dedication and self-discipline, and I think the Admissions Board was able to recognise these qualities in my application.
What was the interview/application process like?
I was initially introduced to the Harvard Rowing team in Brisbane when one of the Harvard coaches came to Australia to scout for potential athletes during my senior year. That initial meeting sparked months of correspondence between myself and the coaching team who decided to recruit me and arranged for me to fly to Boston for an official visit. At the time, I was also offered a visit to Princeton, and attended both colleges during the September holidays of my senior year.
What were your highlights from competing in the Harvard Rowing Team?
There are really too many to mention! A highlight for the entire Lightweight 1st Varsity Eight was winning the Eastern Sprints Regatta in 2017. We experienced a rocky season leading up to the final regatta and were by no means the favorites to win. It was one of those superhuman moments in rowing—the whole crew came together mentally and physically and blew expectations out of the water (no pun intended). A personal achievement for me was also switching to the heavyweight team after coming back from an injury in 2018 and stroking the 1st Varsity Eight at Head of the Charles.
Athletics is so intertwined with the institution, your varsity team becomes like family—not only do you train together, you live together, eat together, and take classes together. Having a female-only boathouse was an amazing experience and really assisted with forging close friendships between the rowers. I think a lifelong highlight for me is the incredibly close friendships I now have with so many inspiring student athletes.
What did you enjoy most about your time at Harvard?
The most impactful and inspiring aspect of studying at Harvard was interacting with other students. No matter where you were, in the dining hall or walking to class, there was always someone in the room who was an expert in something—whether it be neurophilosophy, machine learning, or someone who helped capture the first photo of a black hole. Of course I learned so much in class from my professors, but the thing I enjoyed most about Harvard was learning from my fellow students.
What does your current position entail?
My current position as an Investment Banking Analyst at Santander in New York City entails many different aspects of financial analysis, including industry and company research, excel modelling and creating presentations for client meetings.
Do you see yourself returning to Australia or is the US (in particular NYC) now home?
Staying in the US and working in New York City has definitely been the right step following completion of my degree. The opportunities to learn on a global stage and work in banking in one of the largest finance centres in the world were not to be passed up. However, I am still very connected with my family and friends, and ultimately would like to return to Australia to continue my career at home when the time is right.
What advice would you give to a Grammar girl or woman who is considering completing their study overseas?
I think the most important piece of advice would be to ensure that it is the right decision for you. With so many exceptional academic institutions and education opportunities available in Australia, going overseas is not always a necessary pathway. It’s a very long way to travel at such a young age, and it is certainly not easy being so far away from family. However, I do think it is a worthy pursuit if you identify an overseas university that fulfills a specific desire, benefit or experience that you could not otherwise obtain in Australia. For me this was the ability to continue pursing academics and athletics at the highest level possible—a desire only satisfied by top-tier academic intuitions that also offer an elite college rowing program.
