Brigette Berkery

The Robb College Foundation Leadership Scholarship recipient

Hometown: Sydney

Degree Studying: Bachelor of Nursing

The best thing about living at Robb: Attending Robb has been the best decision I have made so far; I have met so many great people who have such similar interests and a huge love for life. The extra-curricular offered at Robb has been a monumental part of Robb life for me, cementing friendships, offering leadership opportunities and enabling a holistic lifestyle.

Robb students from past and present have created a great sense of camaraderie which I am proud to be part of.

What you would like to do beyond graduation: I would love to be able to work as a nurse in a remote area such as Katherine or Alice Springs. This will possibly come as a challenge for me but will broaden my knowledge and skills in nursing. It may also provide me with unknown opportunities in certain aspects of nursing which I may not have considered. At some stage, perhaps after or in my first year out, I would also love to go on a road trip and explore Australia.

Letter of appreciation

To whom this may concern,

My name is Brigette Berkery, I am studying a Bachelor of Nursing at the University of New England, currently in my second year. I am writing to thank the generous donors of ‘The Robb College Foundation Leadership Scholarship’, for which I have been honoured with.  I am truly grateful, as it has provided me with a sense of financial security this current year.

University life is not the same without attending college, prior to commencing my studies at UNE and relocating to Robb College I attended a university in Sydney where I was commuting back and forth each day from home. This only lasted for one semester as social media platforms exposed me to the enjoyment which my friends at Robb were having. I knew that I could be enjoying life so much more if I attended Robb College. It promotes a positive community which fosters an environment of personal growth through social interaction and learning.

Sydneysiders are often curious as to why I would want to live six hours away from home, to attend university when there are universities available to me in Sydney. It is because I have a profound love for the country, not only do I wish to work as a nurse in regional Australia in the future but to complete my degree in a regional area with people of similar interests is important to me.  Attending Robb College has allowed me to build friendships which I will treasure forever. The holistic aspect of Robb life brings out the best in me, it encourages an involvement in extra-curricular activities and it also fosters and promotes leadership. Consequentially, it has also had a positive impact on my mental health.

Being from Sydney, all services are at our fingertips, thus relocating to a regional university has come with geographical and financial costs including boarding and extra utility expenses. However, it has also provided me with an overriding window of holistic opportunities as well as potential for future career opportunities through rural nursing placements. Being a full-time student, the cost of living on-campus is essentially unaffordable for me. Therefore, being honoured with this scholarship has provided my parents with financial assistance taking pressure off them for which I am very appreciative. As a result of this benefit which I have been granted, it has allowed me to commit to my full-time studies in Nursing, additionally providing me with a great sense of enjoyment and healthier outlook on life which my family and I value.

It is with sincere gratitude that I thank the Robb Foundation for fostering the Robb community and encouraging students to reach their potential by offering ‘The Robb College Foundation Leadership Scholarship’.

Sincerely,

Brigette Berkery