NEWS
Good evening all.
I’m extremely fortunate to stand before you today under the aegis of AVEPA, recounting the things that this organization has done for me through its sponsorship. As a student undertaking the HSC, I was often stumped by questions of purpose and goals in life. What exactly was the point of ranks, marks and the pursuit of all things academically inclined? What exactly constitutes success as
a student, and where – if ever – did the journey end? Was it all just one masochistic slog, a selfish scrabble for moments in the limelight? In my search for something more meaningful, less temporary and appealing to higher sensibilities, I was introduced to AVEPA by my mother, a sworn disciple of the Vietnamese radio.
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| Matthew Chu. |
AVEPA’s philosophy of building an academia of Australian-Vietnamese heritage, capable of contributing actively to wider society struck me as deeply noble. The image it promotes of a class of professionals pushing boundaries on both intellectual and societal frontiers, exemplifying the fruits of multicultural integration is one that has shifted my personal worldview. By endearing these values I’ve been able to fully accept the fact of life-long learning and the possibilities of being both a student and a valuable member of the community. AVEPA’s ideas have driven me in my dual commitments to the science of the human body and the art of philanthropy, through my work with St Vincent de Paul. Although juggling these roles in the first year of uni was somewhat novel to me, I can report that the challenges of the freshman have done nothing but to strengthen my belief in the spirit of these ideals. To be able to say with greater confidence that I recognise the part I play on the world’s stage is something for which I’m truly grateful. I hope AVEPA continues to confer the clarity of its vision to students of subsequent generations, and express my sincerest wishes to help pass that torch down through posterity.
Thank you.
