Taylor's Story

Changing the world - one student at a time

‘There just weren’t the facilities to help a student like me excel at school or apply to university,’ remembers Taylor, a law and business undergraduate from the South Coast of New South Wales.

‘Most people didn’t understand why I wanted to move away, either – the expectation was you would find a job and get married – but I wanted to make new friends and have new experiences. I dreamed of working at a major law firm in the centre of Sydney and practising overseas.’

The seed had been planted early. Not only had Taylor’s mother paved the way by being the first in her family to go to university, she was fiercely supportive of her daughter’s ambitions. ‘She always encouraged me to be who I wanted to be,’ says Taylor.

Independence was forged from a young age too, with Taylor packing handmade soap for a family friend at the age of ten to afford treasured tickets to the movies. ‘I was brought up to work hard,’ says Taylor, who worked in a pharmacy throughout high school to save for university.

‘I knew it would be a big financial commitment to move out of home and go to university,’ reflects Taylor. ‘The expenses are huge – accommodation, food, textbooks, technology, wifi, then you have to factor in being able to get home again in the holidays.’

But it was something Taylor had set her sights on as a promising high school debating student watching Australia’s first female prime minister being sworn in. ‘I was inspired by women who were challenging societal structures and wanted to be part of this change.’

Spurred on by her debating success and an English teacher confident in her abilities, Taylor decided to pursue law at university. As she explains, ‘I am deeply passionate about the role lawyers can play as advocates in society and believe it will empower me to give back to those in need,’ says Taylor, who is firmly focused on entering the bar.

And so, at the end of high school, Taylor found herself staying up late at night poring over university handbooks with her mother. ‘It was very challenging and often overwhelming, researching universities and working out how I could afford to move to Sydney,’ says Taylor. ‘It was a real rollercoaster.’

Many sacrifices were made, but still, she encourages others in a similar position to keep going. ‘Apply for the university you want to go to, not just the ones that are close to you,’ she says. ‘Apply for everything and see what happens. You never know where it will lead.’

However, Taylor’s difficulties didn’t end with her acceptance into university. Having suffered from a chronic illness toward the end of high school and unable to work as much as she would have liked, her savings were soon depleted.

‘I was working 30 hours a week, trying to keep my head above water. By pursuing my immediate needs, I couldn’t be involved in activities that would help me transition to a career in law. I felt very disheartened,’ she remembers of the time she decided she would need to apply for a scholarship.

Then, due to COVID, she lost her job. ‘My scholarship saved me,’ she says of the Jennifer Barton Memorial Law Scholarship, which recognises excellence in women entering their second year of a law degree. ‘It was a privilege and a real gift,’ says Taylor with genuine gratitude for the well-timed support.

It goes beyond simply fulfilling a financial need, though; it’s a lot more meaningful than that. The real value in a scholarship is in how it transforms students’ lives, something that is not lost on Taylor. ‘My scholarship has defined my university experience and will have a long-term impact; it has been absolutely life changing.’

As she explains, ‘My scholarship gave me the gift of time; time to progress personally and build myself and my future career. Time to be open to new experiences, time to enter competitions and volunteer, which increased my confidence and experience, and led to employment in my chosen field. Without my scholarship, I would not be where I am now.’

True to her word, Taylor is now working at a major law firm in Sydney as a paralegal while completing her degree, which is a great stepping-stone to a coveted clerkship and graduate position. She is well on her way.

‘Thanks to the support from my scholarship, I can see my future more clearly now,’ says Taylor, who encourages other students to apply for scholarships, too.

‘Don’t let the voices telling you that you’re not good enough because of where you’ve come from or who you are stop you from applying for a scholarship,’ she says. ‘You can’t envision the possibilities it will open up for you.’

Intelligent and insightful, Taylor can also see the bigger picture. By providing scholarships to students like her, she says there is a positive flow-on effect as graduates go out into the community, creating a diverse cohort of professionals and, ultimately, society.

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, through scholarships, we’re not just changing the world for one student – we’re changing the world one student at a time.