Melton Christian College year 11 student Ryan Halim has been selected to participate in a prestigious scholarship program with the University of Melbourne. He speaks with Sarah Oliver.
What is your connection to Cobblebank?
Within the city of Melton, I live in the little locality of Cobblebank. I have strong ties to the general Melton area because it has been as a second home to me. See, I’ve lived here in Melton ever since I moved from Jakarta, Indonesia back in early November 2019 – and that by divine providence—right before the whole border restrictions and state lockdowns and coronaviruses commenced.
What do you like most about the area?
Mostly, I enjoy observing and noticing the developments that have been occurring here over the years. New buildings popping up here and there, new projects, and renovations – big build. Activity, process, growth, expansion, improvements, upgrades, advancements, and success – these are a few of my favourite things about the area.
What are your favourite local places?
Besides home, my favourite local places include Melton Christian College (Brookfield Campus), Woodgrove Shopping Centre, as well as the Melton and Cobblebank train stations. The last two, because they are means by which I can travel far and back again.
Tell us about the scholarship you’ve been awarded?
The Kwong Lee Dow Young Scholars Program, the namesake of a Professor Kwong Lee Dow, is an academic enrichment program first run in 2007 by the University of Melbourne. Offering them access to additional study resources and sneak peeks into university and career life, the program aims at supporting high-achieving students in their final years of study in Years 11 and 12. Put simply, one Year 10 student from every Victorian school is selected for the program, and this program then runs for the next two years. Even once their secondary studies are over, the student may also be offered a guaranteed place in an undergraduate degree, financial assistance to move to Melbourne, and an overseas scholarship during their studies. So, lots of pros overall, which is good.
What made you apply?
The prospect of this great opportunity – to be selected by my school and nominated for this pretty prestigious program. I ought not to turn such an offer down – I could not. To think I wouldn’t have known of the Scholars program had it not been for my school’s telling me about it.
What are you hoping to get out of the scholarship?
I hope to reap the full benefits of this scholarship, to get the most out of all that it has to offer me. For instance, the program boasts of its offering us ‘access to the largest library collection in the southern hemisphere’. Next, I am also hoping to hone my leadership skills – on top of my academic self – since this area does have much room for positive growth and improvement. This also is one of the key points of the program: ‘qualities of leadership, engagement and involvement’, of which the Professor is an exemplar. Overall, I hope to use the scholarship as a tool to build myself up as a person.
What are your future plans for after school?
At this time, after school, I intend on going to university and becoming either an architect or civil engineer. This is not the be-all and end-all, however; I am open to any changes in the future concerning what I’m going to become.
What is something people may be surprised to learn about you?
Outside the topic of academic things, I love drawing, music, history, geography, cinematography, literature and poetry, as well as languages and etymology. Equally as well, I delight in the joy of creation – of creating things.
