AVCAT has allowed me to flourish at university without the worry of how my parents and I would find the funds for my textbook, transport, and medical fees.
By Grace Sholl
Servant leadership runs in my family’s blood. Both of my maternal great-grandfathers served during WWI, and several of my maternal great-uncles served in Vietnam. Both my mother and father carried on this tradition, serving for over 60 years combined in the Australian Army.
Growing up as an ‘Army Brat’, I watched both of my parents struggle with their physical and mental health throughout their service. I came to feel responsible for looking after them, even as a young child. I can remember, as young as the age of three, deciding that I would become a doctor so I could help people like my parents, who sacrificed everything to uphold the values they stand for.
I’ve always found the human mind fascinating, even before I learned of the long family history of mental illness I had inherited. From the age of 12, I was determined to become a psychologist. Four years later I graduated from high school and applied to Griffith University. I was accepted into the Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) program.
I was thrilled by the endless opportunities for service and growth that university provided and threw myself into as many programs as I could. I’ve been a Peer Notetaker for Student Disability and Accessibility services, volunteered and served the Griffith community as a Student Services Student Leader, volunteered with Griffith’s School of Applied Psychology at Nathan Open Day 2019, and mentored first-year psychology students as a School of Psychology Mentor.
I was elected to represent Griffith’s Mount Gravatt campus on the Griffith University Student Representative Council (SRC). In my free time, I volunteer with Headspace as a Youth Representative, partaking in policy consultation, sitting on interview panels, and helping with community engagement at local events.
I am a volunteer with Griffith Mates, a peer-support network that helps international students adjust to university life in Australia through a range of community events and activities. My roles include assisting with and presenting at university events, mentoring international students new to Australia, assisting at events like networking nights and multicultural dinners, and producing several short videos for Griffith Mates.
With my RSL Queensland Scholarship, I have been able to wholeheartedly immerse myself into my studies and volunteer work. My scholarship also allows me the ability to look after my parents while studying and look after my own physical and mental health.
Grace Sholl was awarded the AVCAT RSL Queensland Scholarship in 2020.
