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Journo’s dream is a reality
By Brendan Wong
University of Technology, Sydney
“The Ambassadorial Scholarship Program sponsors students to study
overseas for a year, not only based on grades – although that is
important – but a willingness and ability to engage with and serve
the wider community in the long term,” explains Yu.
She discovered the scholarship while working part-time at the
University of Sydney Careers Service. “I met a colleague who was
actually a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar from America. I mentioned to
her my dream of studying abroad, she told me about the scholarship
program and it went from there.”
With some assistance from her local Rotary Club, Yu successfully
applied for the program. From September 2009 to September 2010, she
studied a Masters in International Studies and Diplomacy at the
University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies.
“World affairs has always been a major interest of mine and during
the scholarship I studied international relations, international
economics and Mandarin. It was a demanding but fascinating course,
and I came out of it with a much richer understanding of not only
our international system, but also Australia’s place in it.”
Outside of study, Yu made the most of what the cosmopolitan British
city had to offer. “For me it was also the ideal launch pad through
which I could explore the rest of the UK and Europe, and also
further afield to China, Israel and Palestine,” said Yu.
“Living and studying abroad is such an enriching experience. I came
back home with a stronger sense of who I was and what I wanted to
focus on in life.” Since returning home in January, Yu has started a
cadetship at SBS (Special Broadcasting Service) which she describes
as “exciting and challenging.”
“I’ve wanted to work for SBS since I’ve known that I wanted to work
in the media. It’s such a unique organisation. As a broadcaster it
actively acknowledges that people can have multiple cultural
identities. “I can’t emphasise how happy I was to be offered the
position – I still have to pinch myself every time I walk through
those doors.”
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For more information about Ambassadorial Scholarships, go to
Rotary’s website,
www.rotary.org. Under the Students and Youth Tab, look for
Ambassadorial Scholarships.
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Katrina Yu always had a dream to study overseas but never thought it
would be possible due to the costs. However, after completing her
journalism degree in 2008, the Filipino-Chinese-Australian fulfilled
her aspiration through the Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship Program.