UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIPS
Many Perth Modern School graduates receive prestigious scholarships to top universities in Australia.
Below some of these students talk about their life after Mod.
Anish Badgeri
Fogarty Scholarship (UWA) 2012
When did you graduate from Perth Modern and what uni course did you select?
I graduated from Perth Modern School in 2012, and studied the Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) at UWA with majors in Political Science & International Relations and Economics. I also studied a concurrent Diploma of Modern Languages in French.
You received a Fogarty scholarship to UWA- explain how this scholarship helped you with your studies?
Receiving a Fogarty Scholarship supported me in terms of connecting with me with an inspiring group of passionate and ambitious young people with a shared collective vision of making a positive impact in the world. The program achieved this by creating opportunities such as speaker panels and conversations with experts across a variety of disciplines, professional workshops, and mentorship programs. The Scholarship also provides generous financial support to participate in opportunities such as study abroad programs.
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What do Forgarty scholarship recipients receive as part of the scholarship?
Fogarty scholars receive financial support for the duration of the degree, which can be used to pay for university fees or study abroad opportunities. Beyond that, Scholars receive access to a comprehensive leadership development program that is designed to enhance our leadership skills and capacity to give back to our community.
What was involved in applying for the scholarship?
The application process involves a comprehensive written application to demonstrate excellent across creative, academic, sporting, and community engagement domains. This requires a lot of supporting evidence on your contributions to each domain in a meaningful way. This is followed by an interview process, with the final decision also taking into account your ATAR.
How did Mod support you through this process?
The staff at Perth Modern School were incredibly helpful in mentoring me during the application process, from helping to workshop my personal statement to providing written evidence and reference letters. I couldn’t have done it without them!
What advice do you have for current students thinking of applying for a university scholarship?
The most critical advice is to ensure that you’re applying for the right reasons – the Fogarty community (like most other scholarship communities) is looking for active and engaged global citizens who are motivated and committed to giving back to society. You should be able to demonstrate that you are genuinely committed to making the world a better place and that you are dedicated to this principle (regardless of the outcome of your application).
You are now a HASS teacher at Mod and help students a lot with debating – how are you enjoying yourself here?
I have absolutely enjoyed coming back to Perth Modern School this year to help students, both within and beyond the classroom. I am very passionate about ensuring that young people are actively engaged with the world around them and willing to critically challenge things they see as unjust. Studying subjects such as Politics & Law or participating in debating are really empowering opportunities for young people to feel like they have a voice, and can advocate for issues that they are deeply passionate about. It has been very rewarding to see students find their voice and become truly engaged global citizens.
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Emma Boogaerdt
Forgarty Scholarship (UWA) 2012
Describe your time at Perth Modern School in terms of growing as an individual and a scholar.
I think the biggest influence on my growth during my time at Mod were my teachers. I feel incredibly lucky to have been taught by so many passionate people, who worked tirelessly to make sure their students were supported and encouraged. Mod also afforded me so many opportunities to expand my knowledge and challenge myself, particularly being on Student Council which was a real learning opportunity and development of my leadership skills.
What are your favourite memories of your time at Mod?
Many of my favourite memories from my time at Mod came from school trips, be it going on Europe or Italian Tour, field trips for photography, or traveling for extra-curricular competitions. It was really exciting being able to go away with friends and I personally loved the chance to get out of the classroom and do something hands on!
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If you could relive high school all over again, what would you do differently?
If I could relive high school all over again I would probably stress less and not sweat the little stuff. I think there’s a lot of pressure put on young people to know exactly what to do with your life while at school, when in reality there’s no rush at all. I think if you try your best, have fun, and focus on being mentally and physically healthy then the other stuff will work itself out.
Who do you still keep in touch with from Mod after leaving?
I’ve kept in touch with quite a few friends from school, in fact, I’m Maid of Honour for the wedding of two school friends later this year! I’m also in contact with a few former and current teachers, including HASS teacher Anish Badgeri who was actually a classmate of mine at Mod.
What did you study after leaving Mod and what are your current career/academic goals?
I completed a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and International Relations in 2015 and graduated from the Juris Doctor last year. I was lucky to have the chance to study overseas twice – during my undergraduate degree I did a congressional internship in Washington DC while taking summer school through the University of California, and during my postgraduate studies I did an exchange at Utrecht University in their Masters of Law program.
Why did you choose this particular area of study?
I was always loud and argumentative as a child so naturally I was always told to be a lawyer! Once I got older I realised that fairness and access to justice were important values to me, so pursuing a career in the law seemed like a good fit.
What else have you achieved/been involved in since your time at Mod?
At university I continued my habit of spending more time on extra-curriculars than my studies, particularly through inter-varsity debating and also being elected to the UWA Student Guild. I also had a number of part-time jobs, from flipping burgers to working for Members of Parliament.
This year I commenced my graduate year at Allens, a commercial law firm, and next month I will be admitted as lawyer at the Supreme Court of Western Australia. I’ve continued my involvement in debating as a Board Member of the WA Debating League and a school friend and I have taken up Italian classes again – continuing on from our studies while at Mod. I’m hoping to practice law overseas at some point, but who knows what the post-Covid future holds!
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Elizabeth Knight
Fogarty Scholarship (UWA) 2016
Describe your time at Perth Modern School in terms of growing as an individual and a scholar.
Coming to Perth Mod was the first place I had ever truly been able to be myself. At primary school, I felt like a fish out of water. It was the most amazing feeling to find my home alongside 200 other people who were all passionate about learning new things. I’d do anything to have an experience like that again, because it’s something that is so rare once you leave school.
What are your favourite memories of your time at Mod?
I don’t think that anything can beat the incredible teachers that you find at Mod. I idolised all of my teachers in Year 12 - to say that they were passionate and supportive doesn’t do them justice. Not to mention the music program, which despite being a sub-par violinist, I really treasure all of the performances in choirs and on Music Tour. I’ve gone back to some of the places we visited since, and I can’t believe how lucky we were to sing and play in some of the most beautiful venues in the world! But of course, the people and the learning environment are what I miss the most.
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If you could relive high school all over again, what would you do differently?
The only thing I would change is to invest as much time in learning about myself, as I did about the world around me. I left school with a perfect ATAR and so many amazing skills and learnings, but I didn’t know where I wanted them to take me. Learning about who you are will become your secret weapon after you graduate, because you have so many opportunities from being a Mod graduate, the hardest part is figuring out which opportunity to choose.
Who do you still keep in touch with from Mod after leaving?
I’ve actually gotten to know lots of people outside of my year group, which is really cool. The sad thing about our school is that everyone becomes so successful and ends up spread across the world so it’s hard to get everyone in one place. There are lots of people who I don’t see often, but every time I do get to catch up with my Perth Mod friends, even if it’s only passing them by at university or in the city, it feels like no time has passed.
What did you study after leaving Mod and what are your current career/academic goals?
I studied Management, Political Science and International Relations, but to be honest most of my education since leaving school has happened outside of the classroom! I quite quickly realised that I didn’t want to follow a traditional path, and so I’ve founded my own startup called Purposeful, which helps young people to create meaningful careers for themselves, so that they are motivated, confident and excited about their futures. My goal is to bring my vision for education and my business to life, and to help as many young people as possible!
Why did you choose this particular area of study?
Initially I chose to be in the Bachelor of Philosophy degree at UWA, because it was ‘prestigious’. In actual fact, it is a great degree, but only if you want to do research or academia in my opinion. I chose Management because it was the closest thing I could find to ‘leadership’, and International Relations because I wanted to culture myself about the world around me.
In hindsight, management was not the best choice, but it allowed me to have freedom to pursue things outside of my degree. International Relations was a great blend of history, psychology, literature and languages which I loved. My advice is to pursue what you love learning, because if you love what you do, you will always be motivated to excel at it.
What else have you achieved/been involved in since your time at Mod?
There have been a few big ‘wins’ along the way, but the achievement I am proudest of is creating my own career pathway for myself and not giving up on what I am truly passionate about.
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Sagar Badve
John Curtin Undergraduate Scholarship (2017)
What course and where are you studying?
I am studying a double degree of Law and Finance at Curtin University, under the John Curtin Undergraduate Scholarship (JCUS). The JCUS is the most generous and prestigious undergraduate scholarship offered at Curtin. The scholarship has allowed me to travel to Sweden, on exchange, through the international travel stipend, and focus on my studies and extracurricular activities, as my degree costs are covered.
How did you become involved with the Mannkal Economic Education Foundation Leadership Development Program (LDP)?
During my time on exchange, I was immersed in widely different political and cultural landscapes. Equipped with this newfound global perspective, I sought to explore different political outlooks which serendipitously lead me to apply for the Mannkal Economic Education Foundation Leadership Development Program (LDP). The LDP is a full-funded scholarship valued at $20,000 enabling students to interact with leading academics on topics regarding economics, public policy and a free society. Moreover, the program enables scholars to travel internationally to various think-tanks and economic foundations to broaden their knowledge of global economics and politics.
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What have you enjoyed about your association with Mannkal and how has it contributed to your growth as a student?
I joined the LDP hoping to gain a deeper understanding of economic and political systems but have been overwhelmed by the amount of effort that the team at Mannkal puts into facilitating success for each of their scholars. Various opportunities have been provided to me including local internships and also the facilitation of major contacts in key interest areas including South-East Asia and the US. Throughout the LDP I have come to delve deeper into issues while pragmatically examining their true effects on society; rather than previously, merely analysing them on a surface level. Moreover, I have continued to develop the ability to question government policy from different angles and ensure that the systems that are established for the people are truly serving the people.
What are your future plans regarding your studies/career?
Through the LDP I will be embarking on a two-month study tour around either Europe or the Americas, in early 2021. Alongside being a Mannkal scholar I have also been awarded the Georgia Rotary Student Program Scholarship and will attend the University of Georgia (UGA) from August 2021 into 2022. From there I hope to utilise the contacts I have made through Mannkal to gain a better understanding of the US financial and legal system, while also building a nationwide network. I am particularly in interested in the fusion of leadership with business and community, and such, closely works with the executive team at Path of Hope; a charity focused on breaking the intergenerational cycle of family and domestic violence. I aim to continue to learn and expand my network while providing value to any organisation I work with, and more so, to benefiting the wider community.
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