When opportunity comes full circle

Some of the very first participants in La Trobe’s Regional Pathways Program have since gone on to study and graduate at La Trobe. One of them is Emma — a former student who’s now come full circle. What began as an opportunity to explore university has become a lifelong connection, inspiring the next generation of regional students to follow in her footsteps.

Growing up in rural city of Wodonga, Emma had never imagined herself at university. She believed that the only way to study was to move to a capital city – something she didn’t want to do and couldn’t afford.

“I pretty much decided early on that it meant that university was not an option for me,” says Emma. “I was convinced that I could never and would never go to university.”

As the first person in her family to complete higher education, Emma had no guides or role models who had attended university. She had only met one person who had started university but did not complete their course, so it had never been spoken about much throughout her life.

“I hadn’t experienced any discussion about university before I started Year 12, so the process of things like applications and how university works were completely foreign to me.”

Everything changed when she joined the Regional Pathways Program. It gave her the confidence to believe she could succeed, and revealed that her local La Trobe campus offered courses she was interested in.

“They reminded us that there is always a pathway for students; it was just about finding the right one.”

With the support of Pathways, Emma enrolled at La Trobe Albury-Wodonga, completed her Bachelor of Psychology (Honours). Now she is pursuing a PhD in Sport and Exercise Psychology – a field where she can help people for a living.

Alongside her studies, she has also come full circle within the program itself.

“I started as a Student Facilitator where I helped facilitate workshops and mentor students, before I worked my way up into the Coordinator role.”

Now, as the Senior Coordinator of the Regional Pathways Program in Albury-Wodonga, Emma runs workshops, organises events, and shares her experience as both an alum and a researcher-in-training with students who were once just like her.

“The Regional Pathways Program was exactly the kind of support that I needed during Year 12, so being able to be part of the team that continues to provide support to students is incredible! It feels like a rewarding and proud full-circle moment.”

For Emma, the highlight is watching her students experience that same turning point.

“Being able to see students having ‘lightbulb’ or ‘a-ha’ moment while sharing information with them is an incredibly rewarding experience. Seeing firsthand the impact we can have on students’ lives is so empowering.”

Stories like Emma’s show how the impact of one opportunity extends far beyond a single student. With continued support for the Regional Pathways Program, more regional students can discover their path — and one day, help others do the same.