I have loved every minute of university.
By Patrick Pickering
My name is Patrick Pickering. I am 22 years old and studying law and psychology at the University of Tasmania.
From a young age, my parents instilled in me a deep respect and passion for spending time in the bush. My father especially, who had spent a number of years in the Australian Army after completing college, was passionate about teaching my brother and me the various components of bushcraft.
His passing in 2014 had a deep effect on me and the family he left behind, but his legacy nonetheless remains. I spend as much time as I can hiking and camping, and I can’t get enough of it. Long multi-day walks I find to be especially enjoyable. Perhaps it has something to do with the independence and self-reliance involved in it.
Because of the values and passions passed down through the family, I had myself attempted to join the Army Reserve. I got far with the application but was ultimately not successful. Nonetheless, I hope that the path I have chosen is one that my father would regard as admirable.
During college, I had almost no idea of what direction I wanted to go in. At the time I had no intention of attending university and consequently did not receive an ATAR. However soon after completing year 12, I had a change of heart. I had completed a unit in psychology in grade 12 and decided that I wanted to do a degree in psychology. To enter university, I had to complete a bridging course. After completing the bridging course, I had another change of heart and wished also to do a law degree. Getting into this course was a little more complicated, but I managed and am currently going into my fourth year as a combined law/psychology student.
I have loved every minute of university. I have performed well in both degrees and have participated in several extracurriculars such as competitions and societies and have even done some work experience at a law firm.
The AVCAT scholarship has assisted me and my family greatly. With the cost of living rising, it can be difficult to sustain three people with just one income, so the scholarship goes a long way and has been able to take the pressure out of many expenses such as food, petrol, and bills. I therefore wish to express my deepest gratitude to Legacy Australia and AVCAT for their tremendous assistance to me and my family.
Patrick was awarded the Legacy Education Fund Scholarship in 2023.