From being on the student council to helping tackle sexual abuse on campus and volunteering at the Luminosity Youth Summit, Grace said her university experience was far from boring.

“Fun. Inclusive. Always changing  – but in a good way is how I would describe my time at university in Port Macquarie,” Grace said.

“Moving from the Central Coast and not knowing anyone was a pretty uncomfortable thing but it was the best decision for me as I have been able to do so many great things and develop my leadership skills.

“Our campus is so small that you make friends very quickly which is fantastic but I wanted to go beyond that and I really tried to make friends with as many people as I could.”

She said she was very lucky to be able to take on a number of leadership opportunities during her time at university.

“I was vice president of the Student Representative Council and that gave me a great chance to meet like-minded people who wanted to ensure all students enjoyed their time at university,” she said.

“I was also a co-coordinator of Orientation Week in 2018 which was amazing along with being the student representative on the Respect. Now. Always. committee to help advise on plans to reduce sexual violence across all the CSU campuses.

“This was such a personal development opportunity for me being able to work with people from all over the university on such an important topic and make a difference for students all over.”

READ MORE: The world is their oyster as CSU students graduate

Graduating with a Bachelor of Criminal Justice on December 17, Grace said graduation was the satisfying culmination of years spent studying, at a University with a personal touch.

“With the smaller classes we got to have a closer relationship with our lecturers, so we were more comfortable asking questions and sitting down with them for one-on-one sessions,” she said.

“Everywhere you looked you could find someone to help you when you needed it.

“Each year I was at CSU I tried to get more and more involved in student life and trying to make the university experience the best it could be for students.”

Grace is planning to apply to work with the Australian Federal Police in January 2019.

“I am really excited about what the future holds but I will always have a special place in my heart for Port Macquarie.”

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