GradReady Generation Z Scholarship for GAMSAT ^® Courses

If there is one constant in my life, it has been the instinct to rebuild. Whether it was piecing together stability in uncertain times or finding meaning in moments that felt directionless, I have learned to create structure where none existed. Hardship has taught me how to stay composed under pressure, how to listen more carefully, and how to act with intention even when the outcome is uncertain. Every challenge I have faced has refined my sense of purpose and strengthened my capacity to grow through difficulty rather than simply survive it. Empathy and discipline have always been a part of me, but it was through moments of struggle that it deepened into something steadier and more deliberate - which helps me view the most challenging times of my life as valuable experiences. Resilience, to me, is not about toughness but about endurance with heart, the ability to remain kind, curious, and capable when everything is tested chaotically at once.

I am driven by the need to rise beyond the chaos I was born into and to prove to myself that survival does not have to be the end of the story. I come from a place where stability was rare and dreams often faded before they had a chance to grow. Early on, I realised that if I wanted a life shaped by purpose instead of survival, I would have to build it with quiet determination. That drive became the foundation of who I am. What pushes me forward now is the desire to turn instability into stability and to create meaning from experiences that once only brought pain. I carry a quiet grief for those who never had the chance to dream, for friends and neighbours whose potential was lost to circumstance. That grief reminds me why I cannot stop. I want to be a light for others who come from difficult beginnings, to show that struggle can be healed into strength and that the past does not have to dictate the future. Every step I take forward is not only for myself but also for those who need proof that it can be done.

In twenty years, I hope to have built a life defined by impact, selflessness and kindness. I want to work in a field that allows me to serve others with compassion and purpose, where the skills I have spent years refining are used to create stability and hope in places where they are scarce. I hope to be surrounded by people who challenge and inspire me, to remain curious enough to keep learning, and to continue to hold the humility to listen before I act. Most of all, I want to look back and know that I did not waste the lessons life gave me, that I used them to build something meaningful and inspiring for myself and for others.

My GAMSAT journey so far has felt like learning to think in a new language. At first, every concept seemed to stretch my limits, and every essay felt like starting from zero. Slowly, I began to see patterns in the chaos, to connect ideas that once felt out of reach. The process has taught me how to sit with uncertainty, how to stay calm when clarity takes time, and how to find focus in the noise. It has been humbling to realise that progress is often quiet and invisible until one day it isn’t. Preparing for this exam has become more than study; it has become an exercise in patience, discipline, and the steady rebuilding of confidence each time it wavers.

Throughout different phases of my life, from displacement to community leadership and scientific training, I have consistently demonstrated resourcefulness, initiative, and perseverance. These qualities first appeared as I navigated new systems, languages, and responsibilities while supporting my family as a young refugee. They grew stronger as I co-founded the Australia Rohingya Women's Development Organisation (ARWDO), worked in public health advocacy, and pursued advanced study in medical science. In any situation, I rely on creative problem-solving, careful listening, and a willingness to take action when needed.

I am motivated by a desire to turn lived experience into meaningful change. My background as a Rohingya asylum seeker influences my commitment to ensuring that often overlooked groups, refugees, migrants, and communities facing instability have access to safe, fair, and culturally appropriate healthcare. My scientific training pushes me to base this commitment on evidence. What drives me most is the belief that trauma, resilience, and community knowledge can improve healthcare systems when they are recognised and valued.

In 20 years, I plan to be a doctor working at the intersection of clinical care, preventive medicine, and community health, particularly within communities affected by displacement and climate change. I aim to contribute to models of care that combine scientific innovation with cultural insight, ensuring that patients' lived experiences inform the design of services. Beyond clinical work, I hope to support initiatives that foster youth leadership in refugee communities, enabling future generations to shape policies and systems with greater authority and agency.

In October 2025, my GAMSAT journey has just begun, and I'm excited to take on this challenge. As I prepare, I'm focusing on developing a solid study routine while balancing my other responsibilities. This journey is about more than just passing an exam; it's about achieving my goal of entering the medical field and making a positive impact in my community. Preparing for the GAMSAT requires me to juggle multiple roles, including youth leadership, community advocacy, and research opportunities. Approaching the exam in September 2026, I see it as a crucial step toward serving communities like mine. Receiving the GradReady Generation Z Scholarship is a significant milestone, providing support and reaffirming my passion for a career in medicine.

From a very young age, my parents observed that I had a strong curiosity and a desire to learn. I was constantly exploring the world around me and trying to understand how anything and everything worked; sometimes to the extent of taking an object apart to decipher its inner mysteries without quite having ironed out the reassembly phase… As I’ve matured, and particularly as I discovered a love for sciences in my agricultural degree, this quality has only grown and I look forward to a career of learning and curiosity in the field of medicine!

I also see excellence as a persistent quality in my life. Any project or challenge I put my mind to, I am determined to put my whole heart and ownership behind it such that I would be proud to call it my work. I need to be careful that this doesn't turn into obsession and perfectionism, and sometimes I reminisce and laugh at times where my efforts may not have been long lasting… Like the time I meticulously landscaped a short term rental property with my wife before moving a year later. I can’t help myself. Finally, I value integrity and strive to be defined by it. I want to be true to myself and others by keeping true to the values and morals I keep.

At the end of my life, if I have the opportunity, I would like to be able to look over my life and see that I have made the absolute most of the opportunities and gifts provided to me, and that I have given back to the community around me in a tangible and measurable way. My faith plays a pivotal role in this sense of purpose as I believe I was created to contribute and join in with something bigger than myself. To this end, I deeply desire a vocation of service to enable me to serve my community in the day to day, and this has been a key motivator in my decision to pursue a completely different career path than the one I started on eight years ago.

Broadly speaking, I want to be a valued and respected member of my community, a good friend, a loving husband and father, and a skilled and compassionate doctor! Specifically, I’m hoping to successfully obtain my doctorate of medicine in a rural setting, and roll up my sleeves and pursue a career in rural medicine. In 20 years time, I hope to be in a position of leadership within a great team, and I have keen interests in the areas of rural generalism, pediatrics, and retrieval medicine. I also hope to continuously learn and, at some point, contribute to new research.

I started studying in early October of 2024 for the March 2025 GAMSAT. Being a father to a delightful nine month old and maintaining a full-time job that regularly requires many more hours than ‘full-time’, I had to get creative with my study timetable and ensure that every ‘block’ of study was high yield. This translates to me waking at 4am, six days a week, to allow two hours of study before work. This is most successful if I’m asleep by 7:30-8pm every night with our baby, which is a challenge and does come at a cost to my social life and hobbies in the short term, but I believe it is well worth it. I started by slowly making my way through a complete ACER practice exam and discovered I had a lot of revision to catch up on in my sciences, particularly organic chemistry and physics. “Use it or lose it”, I'm told. I am currently completing free science courses at Khan Academy, attempting any free GAMSAT questions I can get my hands on, and trying to write at least two timed essays per week to sharpen my writing skills. I think that being awarded the GradReady Generation Z scholarship will go a long way in increasing the yield of my limited study time!

Throughout my life, I’ve consistently demonstrated qualities like discipline and self-drive. Having to balance being a small business owner whilst completing my Higher School Certificate, I’ve always had a strong sense of autonomy, thriving when I take initiative and pursue my goals; both personal and academic. This self-motivation has fuelled my desire to learn and grow, allowing me to try new experiences and face adversity with a positive mindset. I believe that this combination of determination and independence has allowed me to navigate obstacles and carve my own path effectively.

I am driven by a deep-seated passion for helping others and a commitment to making a meaningful impact in people's lives. Similarly, I am motivated by the drive for continually learning as a syndicate for personal growth, motivating me to expand my knowledge and fostering a deeper understanding of the world around me. The enduring values of faith and compassion are driving forces which shape my actions and interactions, reminding me that at the heart of healing lies not just knowledge, but genuine care for the well-being of others.

In the next 20 years, my goal is to become a dentist. I would like to spend time practicing in a rural setting after completing my Doctor of Dental Medicine degree and fellowship, allowing me to address the needs of underserved communities. I believe this experience would not only enhance my clinical skills but also deepen my appreciation for the challenges these communities face. Ultimately, I would like to own my own dental practice, where I can implement my entrepreneurial vision while providing accessible, compassionate care to those in need.

My GAMSAT journey started after I completed my HSC in the 2023 summer holidays. I watched many inspiring YouTube videos featuring individuals who demonstrated resilience and obtained very successful results in the GAMSAT. To commence my preparation, I signed up for GradReady’s free trial, exploring the numerous resources available which helped me understand the individual demands of each section inherent in the GAMSAT. This was profoundly helpful by allowing me to tailor my study preparation!

Ever since I can remember, I have always been brought up to remain genuine in all my actions. From confronting difficult health challenges to navigating the complexities of relationships or pursuing my passions in science, the compass guiding my journey has consistently pointed toward authenticity. This dedication to genuine expression reflects a commitment to staying true to my convictions, even when faced with the allure of conformity. Moreover, it helps me continue to acknowledge my uncertainties and seek help when needed, all to better understand the human experience. Accordingly, when I am in the midst of tackling professional endeavours or navigating the tapestry of personal relationships, I hope to rely on my authenticity to remain a guiding light.

What drives me is the profound belief that every action, every endeavour, should be infused with purpose and contribute meaningfully to the world. Whether in my personal or professional pursuits, the desire to continuously learn and grow, coupled with a genuine passion for making a difference, acts as the engine that fuels my motivation. In fact, I hope to harness such a desire and use it so I may play a part in shaping a better future, both for myself and for those I have the privilege to impact along the way.

In true ‘Type A planner’ fashion, I have planned out my aspirations for the next two decades with meticulous detail. To save you the effort of reading every step, some key goals are continuing my passion to bridge gaps in healthcare accessibility through my work with the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the Australian Defence Force and eventually within several non-for-profit organisations like Doctors without Borders. Engaging with these organisations is not merely a professional aspiration but a commitment to seeking innovative solutions for those most in need. In fact, these ventures promise to imbue me with an approach to confront the health challenges of our evolving world – a reflection of my heartfelt aspiration to embody the qualities of an altruistic and resilient person.

Aside from completing practice tests to decipher my genuine strengths and limitations, I have been using my free time to read widely. As a fellow bookworm, who is mostly obsessed with contemporary romance novels, I am hoping my love for books will help me enrich my language skills, deepen my understanding of various cultures, and broaden my perspective on the complexities of the human experience. Other than this, rehashing my basic chemistry and biology knowledge has been key, but am I incredibly eager to have GradReady better prepare me in acing the GAMSAT ^® in a strategic manner through their organised workshops and insightful tutors.

I believe that since childhood I’ve displayed a love of learning and a persistent determination in the face of adversity. My family can attest that I have been a self-designated, and certified, first aid officer for quite a while, often crafting my own first aid kits up to work-safe standards, flying to the rescue of minor cuts, burns or dressing changes. I’m also known to choose ‘nerdy’ hobbies, such as studying the bones in the body and even reading through Anatomy and Physiology textbooks in my free time. My passion for being a doctor, or for learning in general has been challenged by various health and life complications, however I have consistently stayed true to what I love.

Definitely my want to contribute to the field of patient care. In my essay, I mention my experiences with the healthcare system and how they drive me to become a doctor so I can have a positive and helpful impact on a child’s development.

Ideally, I’d like to graduate as a doctor of medicine and then eventually complete a Masters in Surgery. Then I’d like to work as an Emergency Paediatrician at the Royal Children’s hospital or Monash Children’s hospital. During my time at University and hopefully after I start my career, I’d be interested to be involved in research of autologous stem cell growth to facilitate transplants that minimise graft-host disease.

I’m at the very beginning of my journey in the GAMSAT ^®. Upon looking at the official GAMSAT ^® website, I was extremely overwhelmed with the content required for the test. However, when I discovered GradReady, I realised that I am capable of passing with flying colours if I have help from experts and tutors who understand the process really well already.

I am inclined to think that my brightest feature has always been craving for knowledge. I have always considered education to be my priority, my desire to learn has never been put down regardless of anything – neither of the armed conflict in my region in 2014, which made me pull myself together and become and external student and finish 2 grades of school in 1 year, nor of Russian invasion this year, which made me seek for the opportunities to continue my studies, when my university shut down in February, and come to Australia. The other one is purposefulness. I never wait for everything to be handed on a silver platter, my life motto is “Every man is the artisan of his own fortune”. If I aim at achieving something, it will be so.

What really drives me is the idea that life is unpredictable and you never know what will happen to you tomorrow: you may hit the big time or find out that the war in your country started. Anyway, everything, which does not kill you, makes you stronger. Life is full of chances and those who are searching for them, will always get them.

When I am 41, I would like first to be proud of myself and continue my family’s legacy – becoming a highly regarded and prominent specialist who has been doing her best to save people’s lives. In particular, I hope to be working in refugee camps treating the most unprotected layers of the population, keeping in mind that I was helped when I needed it. I also hope to be conducting medical research in the field of nephrology and win The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine by discovering the most attenuated and effective way of treating and preventing urinary stone disease and contributing greatly to public health.

I found out that I must pass a GAMSAT ^® exam when I started to search for the medical programs that suit me. I have never sat it before and after sitting mock tests online I understood that I needed professional advice. I am extremely thankful for the opportunity, given me by GradReady, and I am sure that after completing the course I will be able to score 90+! I am eager to start a new stage of my life and undertake the things I am really passionate about!

I believe that resilience and flexibility are the two qualities I have shown throughout my life. While I can be determined in my goals, I have never been unreasonably uncompromising with myself which has allowed me to adapt to various situations and not give up. I have been able to look forward and work hard. I have had to trust myself and build up a great deal of faith in my own abilities to allow me to go through tough times. Another quality that has helped me through my life both personal and professional is empathy and the ability to walk in people’s shoes. It has taught me a great deal about people’s emotions and their own struggles. This has helped me navigate complicated situations and improve my own reflection skills to be inclusive of many different perspectives and to show kindness through my day-to-day life.

My goal and aspiration of being a doctor has driven me through a large part of my life. My determination to do my best to create a better life for as many people as I can, including myself, has motivated me to put in the hard work and to persevere. The goal of being a doctor has made me happy and added a lot of meaning to my life and I am grateful I found it. I would like to see it through. I am also grateful to have a kind and understanding mother to support me when I need it.

In 20 years’, I hope to be a practicing and specialized doctor actively researching and aiding those in need. I am also interested in travelling as a doctor to different countries in need of health care solutions and providing what I can. I hope to be able to do this freely and I hope to have found a field of medicine that I can dedicate my life to.

The GAMSAT ^®. is certainly a challenge and I am still persevering through it. A large part of the challenge has been not knowing what to study and how to prepare. I am happy to say that GradReady has certainly helped immensely with this. The classes were very well structured and helped students plan for the test. I am yet to sit the actual exam however I do feel more prepared than I was before I started the course. I had a long gap year since finishing my degree and beginning to work and therefore have found getting back into the rhythm of studying and revising to be difficult, GradReady helped jump-start this and gave me some direction which I will always appreciate. The opportunity receiving the millennials scholarship provided also helped motivate me to keep going. I sincerely hope I pass the exam, however if I do not then I hope to keep trying so wish me luck!

In reflection, my strongest qualities have been my generosity and my congeniality. I try to use both my material resources and time for the betterment of my community, whether that is through making donations or volunteering. Having the ability to connect with new people and build diverse relationships has made my life fundamentally richer and more textured and allowed me to learn about and develop empathy for the multitude of lived experiences.

My commitment to the development of the human project is a big motivator in my life. In recent times it has become more popular to become more nihilistic, misanthropic or just apathetic about humanity’s existence, but I remain committed to building a better Anthropocene. I am not naïve enough to believe that improvement of the lives we lead are innate and inevitable and recognise this will take deliberate and thoughtful action within our collective frameworks.

I hope to develop a variety of clinical and practical skills so that I can be a multidisciplinary practitioner. In 20 years, I am looking forward to engaging in global health issues and be involved in both the implementation of evidence-based strategies and the development of these empirical approaches. I am also deeply cognisant this will require building greater cultural competence and understanding how to integrate health strategies into existing structures and institutions that exist in a community.

Up until this point, I have researched the exam’s schedule, its structure and have explored some resources in preparation for the test. I have spoken to peers, both who have and have not been successful in their GAMSAT ^® attempts, to develop perspectives about what is required to do well in the test. My next steps include diving further into GAMSAT ^® preparation materials, including those generously provided by GradReady, and working collaboratively with like-minded peers in trying to build skills for GAMSAT ^® success.

I have always strived to reflect on my values and qualities to improve myself as I believe that if I am the best version of myself, I can help people around me achieve the same outcomes for themselves. I have always valued and demonstrated empathy, I believe that most people just need someone to be there and to listen to them without judgment, criticism and without trying to give them unwanted advice. Another quality that I have learnt to demonstrate as I became older and wiser is being true to myself. I believe that if I am true to myself, I cannot wrong other people. Our attitudes and behaviours towards others reflect our relationship with ourselves, so be true to yourself and you’ll be good to others. I learnt true kindness and compassion from my mum, and I have always displayed both qualities towards other humans. I have always felt better when I have treated people who were unkind to me with kindness and you can always notice their behaviours changing and they become less rude/aggressive, especially while working as a nurse. Being from Afghanistan and having gone through the war, losing a parent and other family members had sunken me into playing the victim. Once I dragged myself out of that mentality, I become more resourceful and displayed initiative daily to get my life back on track. My past will help me build a better future, I am exactly where I need to be in life, right at this moment, this is me and that’s my greatest power because no one can be me.

I think the main reason I stay driven and committed to my goals is that I know I can be anything I want to be. As a doctor, I will have limitless opportunities to serve humanity no matter where I am in the world. Since working with WA Country Health, I have realised the vastness of rural WA and the great necessity for more health professionals.

In the next 10 years I will have achieved my dream of becoming a cardiologist and travelling across rural WA to work in relevant hospitals and practices. Then 10 years after that, I will be travelling the world, where doctors are most needed. I would like to go back to my birthplace and serve the people. I have always felt like I owe that to Afghanistan.

I have always worked part time or full time while studying so it has been very challenging to study for GAMSAT ^®. Life gets in the way, but I have always kept studying to work on my areas of weakness. I had spoken to several medical students, and they had advised me to apply for the courses available, but I was never able to afford the courses while paying my living expenses and saving money for the exam itself. I am confident that I will achieve a much better score than my first attempt in 2017, with the GradReady scholarship.

Empathy, Integrity, Resilience, Curiosity & Kindness. These are 5 qualities I consciously try to consistently work on and demonstrate throughout all areas of my life, because I’ve learnt how important they are for me through all the highs and lows that come with experiencing life.

My privileges and hope.My grandparents were refugees and survivors of the 1947 war between India and Pakistan. They started from scratch, and worked incredibly hard to ensure all their siblings and children had an education and food on the table. My parents did the same for us. They started from scratch as they migrated to Kuwait, Oman and then Australia with no family or friends, very little savings, just so that my brother and I could have a better education and quality of life than they did. I only have the privilege of writing this right now, because of the sacrifices made by the generations before me - it’s something I never take for granted. Being aware and grateful for the privileges that I’m given, drives me to make sure I make the most of the opportunities presented to me.Hope is an airy fairy concept that drives me. The world can sometimes feel like a dark place full of never-ending challenges from inequity, a pandemic, poverty, unemployment and what feels like unfair events in life. What drives me through those really challenging moments is the little moments of kindness, joy and serendipity. When a stranger shouts you a coffee without expecting anything in return, when a baby smiles so big that you can’t help but smile back even when you’re going through so much pain and when a stranger changes your life through one conversation in the best kind of way. Hope for a better world with so much light through being grateful for these little moments, drives me through the dark days.

In 20 years time I want to have played a part in closing the inequitable gap that comes with access to healthcare in developing communities, more specifically in women’s health. It’s a big complex problem, so how I get there is still one I’m figuring out, but I will figure it out hopefully before 20 years from today. My grandfather always said - if there’s a will, there’s a way, and it’s something that has always motivated me on my moonshot thinking missions.

My Gamsat journey has been an adventure. Some days I get really insecure, doubt my intellect, my ability to do well enough to get into a university or even be a good doctor. On those days, I remind myself that how I choose to get through this journey of uncertainty and self-doubt is the test on the kind of doctor I will be, and that really brings perspective and motivation to get through this.

Throughout my life, I have consistently demonstrated initiative, resourcefulness, ingenuity, leadership and passion among many other qualities, which have enabled me to accomplish my goals and allow me to progress through tribulations.During high school, I have initiated activities and contributed to the implementation of numerous changes to the school. The school I attended placed an immense focus solely on academics and poured great finances and resources into higher-grade subjects, often at the cost of creative-based subjects and extra-curricular activities. Having observed this limitation and understanding the need for the provision of more diverse range of programs, I began lobbying for a change throughout the school. In 2015, in conjunction with the high school art teacher, I petitioned to the school principal and administrative leaders to provide Creative Arts at the HSC level and implement more extra-curricular activities. Upon being successful, I was able to begin the student photography club and creative arts club. To uphold the programs, I resourcefully gathered fellow dedicated students and organised fundraisers throughout the entire school in order to provide funds to ensure the continuity of the programs. The clubs provided me with a mammoth of leadership and team management skills beneficial for my future career as a potential leading doctor, an opportunity for creative students to express themselves and a chance for students to get together, meet like-minded individuals and form strong relationships. The programs not only benefitted the current students of the time, but was an initiative that was beneficial to future students alike and consequently contributed to the increased positive reputation of the school amongst the wider community, as parents understood this was a school where their children were given the chance to thrive both academically and creatively.Driven by a strong desire to care for others and improve their health, I have engaged in a magnitude of volunteering activities for the community. With a major passion for mental health and female health advocacy, I have volunteered both privately and with organisations such as Share the Dignity and Red Cross Australia to provide aid to vulnerable members of the community. In addition to health advocacy, my role with Share the Dignity requires the collection and distribution of donated sanity products and working with a range of charities in supplying them to women and girls in need, providing me with practical skills applicable to my desired career in gynaecology and an opportunity to help end period poverty in Australia. Being a certified mental health first-aid provider, I attempt to assist those around me as much as possible, especially in matters regarding mental health. As a Tele-Chat volunteer for Red Cross Australia, I engage in weekly calls to vulnerable members of the community suffering from mental health issues to check-up on their current status and provide verbal and emotional support.Furthermore, as a culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) individual, I have been striving to bridge the cultural and generational gap between migrant parents and modern Australian-born and/or raised children. Whilst actively listening to the increasing problems and concerns of both parents and children, closely consulting with my mother and health care professionals to gather professional knowledge and parenting advice in an effort to formulate solutions to the aforementioned concerns. My background in Medical Science and proficiency and fluency in English and Bengali have proved beneficial in successfully improving effective communication between parents and children, and educating the community at large in regards to the raising concerns of social media and its correlation to mental health and suicide in all age groups, especially the youth.Moreover, I have been working closely with an organisation named Swim Sisters to provide female-only swim times in local swimming pools to encourage otherwise shy females to engage in swimming and educate the community on the importance of maintaining physical health. All of my experiences provide immense support in being a more open-minded, compassionate and experienced health-care worker as well as expanding my skill-set for my future endeavours in improving the health care system of developing countries.

I am driven by a strong desire to care for others and improve the health of the general community. I believe that my personal battles with female health issues and the lived experience of mental health have significantly motivated me to the causes of female health and mental health advocacy.I am prompted by the passion to fulfill gaps in society especially where I feel my knowledge, skills and experience provide immense benefit. Having experience in developing countries and raised in rural Australia, I have witnessed the large extent of health inequity and malpractices in underdeveloped areas. This propelled me to strive in enhancing proper patient care education of health professionals in developing countries in an effort to improve global health.

Within the coming decade, I hope to be a fully registered surgeon with specialities in obstetrics and gynaecology as well as cardiothoracic surgery. With the significant prevalence of congenital abnormalities and infant mortality in Australia, I would like to conduct research into the prevention and treatment of the intrauterine and menstrual disorders through holistic approaches.I would like to use my expertise in making a meaningful impact in the medical health support in CALD communities and the advancement of health care equity, in addition to increase awareness within the said communities of the contributing factors and severity of mental issues.In the 10 years following, I am eager to join the Royal Flying Doctors Services, then Medecins San Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders). With the skills I attain and the assistance of supporting organisations, I aim to enhance global health and improve medical education of developing countries through training and educating medical practitioners in said countries about proper patient care and handling and mental health in an effort to bring about enhanced medical care and equity.

Since the commencement of my bachelor’s degree, I have been researching GAMSAT ^® examination timelines and have briefly attempted practice questions. With the march examination being my first attempt at sitting the test, I have been gathering resources and watching preparation videos. And have consulted previous successful applicants in regards to assistance and clarification of inquiries. The December Attendance Course will be my proper preparation for the exam!

Sometimes I wish I hadn’t had to consistently display resilience and courage but I’m sure it’s shaped a large part of who I am and my story so far. More than anything else though, as I look back on my life to date, I see that my work and decisions revolved around compassion based servitude and generosity. In the midst of all of my endeavours I am told I exude enthusiasm, curiosity and openness. It makes sense to me because I have always had a genuine deep love of people from all walks of life and a fairly insatiable desire to understand and learn from them and perhaps to contribute to their lives too.

I think I’m predominantly driven by hope – for humans and the planet. Time and again I’ve witnessed and been inspired by the remarkable capacity of some humans to endure hardship and continue in the face of adversity, finding joy along the way. Subconsciously, I guess I emulate that and live in light of it. I want to see people flourishing and full of hope.

It’s difficult to say where I’ll be in twenty years, or indeed what any of us will be doing. My hope is that I’ll be making a meaningful impact in the area of Indigenous health and wellbeing, working alongside others in the pursuit of equality and justice - but whatever my capacity is, I will continue living and working in a way that seeks to honour and uphold the humanity and dignity of people struggling with ill health and disadvantage.

Truth be told, I have been pretty intimated by the cost and the process of the GAMSAT ^® and I had let that hold me back until recently. It has taken a while to work up the courage to give it a go and I plan to make the absolute most of the journey, whatever the outcome.

Qualities I would you say that I have consistently demonstrated in my life are integrity, empathy, compassion, resilience and determination.

I am driven by my strong desire to care for people and if given the opportunity contribute to improving their health. I am driven by a thirst for knowledge. I will jump at any chance to better myself as a person and expand my knowledge base. I am driven by my family who show unconditional support and belief in me. Through their support and belief, I have been able to achieve more in my life than I ever thought possible.

Within the next 20 years I have a number of goals I would like to achieve. I hope to gain entry into a medical school and complete my medical doctorate. I would like to specialise in emergency medicine and conduct an internship with the prestigious HEMS. I would like to conduct research into areas of emergency and prehospital medicine that would benefit future clinicians. I would like to be able to assist in training emergency and prehospital clinicians in less advantaged countries. I would do this by donating my time and resources assisting in the development of new programs for underfunded hospitals and ambulance services. Ultimately, I want to be able to deliver the best medical care possible to all people across the world and leave a positive impression on their lives

The March sitting for the GAMSAT ^® will be my first time attempting this formidable exam. I have been researching and preparing for the GAMSAT ^® since I started my bachelor’s degree. I completed my degree this year and have been utilising many different resources to develop my knowledge for the exam. But no matter how many chapters I read or videos I watch I still feel unprepared. I believe with the help of the GradReady program I will be able to put my best foot forward and be fully prepared to conquer the GAMSAT ^® in 2020.

Throughout my life I believe I have demonstrated some key qualities both during times of hardship & in more relaxed times. These qualities are resilience, compassion, adaptability, compartmentalization, high work ethic & a strong desire to see people happy.Throughout my early life up until 4 years ago I lived in Iraq, being in Iraq is always different for different people but being a Christian in a somewhat hostile community brought its own problems. Many people in Iraq were lovely people and a pleasure to know but a small few upon finding out about my faith issued threats of violence upon my family. This caused my family to move around more than most and if I wasn’t resilient and adaptable then I probably wouldn’t have come out of the situation as I have now still having faith in the future. This could also draw strongly on my ability to compartmentalize as I don’t let my past negatively affect my desires for the future.

After my family fled from Iraq into Jordan due to the threat from ISIS we spent 2 years awaiting notification from one of the many countries that we issued a refugee application with. During this time, I became involved with a volunteer group in Jordan as I saw all the pain and suffering around me and I wanted to help anyway I possibly could. I was involved with explaining prescriptions to people as often they were given in English or a limited form of Arabic which many couldn’t properly understand. I did this as I wanted to see other refugees be happy and receive the best treatment possible. Additionally, one of the times which I was able to best show all the qualities listed above was during my time in Jordan when I also volunteered in a child care program. Seeing the children there who had lost the innocence of childhood was so painful to see, often as they had lost all they had held dear and sometimes witnessed death at such a young age. I compartmentalized my own problems at the time and did my absolute best to bring joy back into the life of those young children.

When I got to Australia my life was back on track but many years being lost due to being a refugee. I was confident that I could adapt to this new culture here in Australia and continue towards my ambitions of becoming a doctor which could help bring happiness and minimize the pain which others feel. I believe that my life has been led by an amalgamation of my key qualities and without all of them working simultaneously I wouldn’t be the person I am today who still strives to become a doctor.

I believe a major driving force behind me is both my faith as well as an incredibly strong desire to help other people experience the happiest life they can.

In 20 years I hope to have successfully completed my medical doctorate. From there I am open to many possibilities, but I hope to be either a haematologist or a general practitioner. I hope to have helped many people and to have seen my work have a meaningful impact on the lives of many around me.

My GAMSAT ^® journey so far is quite short, I have spent time looking into the GAMSAT ^® and the more I look into it the less prepared I have felt. Due to this I decided to only attempt the GAMSAT ^® once I feel that I am adequately prepared for it which is why I am so excited for the GradReady program as I believe it is the best way for someone like me to come to the GAMSAT ^® fully prepared for all it has in store.

I am a strong-willed and compassionate person. I love having deep and meaningful conversations with others. I am also a deep thinker and a wisdom seeker.

I think the primary thing that drives me is my passion for the neurosciences and to utilise my knowledge to make a difference in someone’s life.

I hope to eventually get into medicine and become a doctor. I also hope to continue my research especially in the area of neural plasticity and brain stimulation.

Unfortunately, I attempted the GAMSAT ^® twice. And, it did not go so well. Due to my handwriting and vision difficulties, I am finding sections 1 and 3 quite challenging. However, I have been openly advocating for alternative entry pathways for prospective medical students with disability.

From an early age I've had many different interests. Growing up in Alice Springs, sport became a huge part of my life, and cricket was eventually the sport that took over all the others. After moving to boarding school in Adelaide to pursue cricket further, I was lucky enough to find myself representing South Australia in the national Future's League competition in my first year of University. Since then, I've had to balance cricket commitments with university, as well as working as a resident assistant and Indigenous mentor at a secondary school. All the while working towards my aspirations to help people in areas of poverty and disaster. Through a passion for all of these interests paired with perseverance and discipline, I've been able to succeed in each of these pursuits, and these qualities are what I hope will bring me similar success in studying medicine.

Having a passion for Indigenous education from my experiences in Alice Springs, working as an Indigenous student mentor in Adelaide has been an incredibly rewarding experience. Yet in my eyes there were drastic improvements that could be made to my School's current program. This year I was lucky enough to win a fellowship from the school in order to rewrite the Indigenous education program with the hope to increase the wellbeing of students and achieve greater success in closing the gap in educational outcomes.

During 2015 I found myself in Nepal during the devastating earthquake that shook the country to its knees. Within this tragic situation I realised why I'd always been drawn to a career in medicine. I found myself completely helpless to help all those in need in any significant way. The experience of seeing doctors being able to help all those who'd been devastated in the wake of the tragedy opened my eyes to the fact that in matters of life and death, being a doctor is one of the most meaningful ways to help people when they need it most.

From my different experiences around the world, I've learnt that we are all extremely lucky to live in a country like Australia. We have opportunities here that are a privilege, and I feel as though it is up to us to help those in need that find themselves in situations of disadvantage; whether that be abroad or on our own doorstep. My passion for helping others, and discipline and perseverance to constantly pursue success, are qualities that I hope will lead me to be successful in making the most of these opportunities, and help those who need it most through a career in medicine.

An innate desire to push myself to achieve my full potential and not waste any opportunities, has driven me to strive for success in everything I do. Being from a refugee family that arrived in Australia in the 1970s, my family's sheer hard work allowed them, and eventually myself, to have opportunities that are an absolute privilege, not a right, such as studying at university and pursuing what interests me with freedom. My grandparents' unbelievable hard work inspires me to push myself every day to make the most of these opportunities that I have been lucky enough to be given.

In 20 years I hope to be established as a registered specialist in emergency medicine or a general surgeon. I hope that I'd have helped those patients in rural and remote areas of Australia and impoverished areas of the world. I aspire to work for Doctors without Borders in disaster zones and areas of extreme poverty, and in the healthcare of refugees, who desperately need greater support. Having seen first-hand the discrepancies between major centres and the rural communities of Australia from a healthcare perspective, I also aspire to become a leader in reducing this inequality through working in these areas and ensuring they are not forgotten by the rest of the medical community.

2017 will be my first attempt at the GAMSAT ^® exam. I began studying with Gradready in late July of this year. I've learnt an immense amount so far, and from here on in I need to stay on task and keep working on improving my weaknesses, to feel as if come March 2017 I've given it all I've got, and hopefully that will be enough to allow me to pursue tuition at the medical school of my choice.

My drive and determination to continue to learn and expand my knowledge in a range of areas has always been present in my life. From the time before I went to school I was already asking my parents to put me in classes! I had an innate gift and love for art which drove me to bargain for extra art lessons whenever I could. I learnt to read before I started school and books always offered me an amazing escape from the real world as a child. I always seemed to be reading.

When I started school I developed another passion which had been brewing, the love of maths and science. I found maths fun and would do equations as a pastime. When in year 5 at school, my teacher gave me the opportunity to do some year 6 work, I revelled in this and ended up jumping a year. The following year my dad unexpectedly passed away in traumatic circumstances and left me unable to complete year 7 and year 8. When I started back at school in year 9 I was nearly 2 years behind my classmates. However, I caught up within a few months and then excelled academically by receiving an offer to be part of the GATE (Gifted And Talented Education) Academic Extension program. I was also part of the GATE Visual Arts program and went to school every Saturday to do art. However, I still suffered from debilitating conditions and given a relapse during year 12 I was unable to attend school but completed my studies at home and still graduated (but without an ATAR score).

I started a fine arts degree that I got into through portfolio pathway, however, I soon began to miss maths and science. I never understood society dictating that one must choose either art or science. I am now completing my psychology degree as it provides a good mix, however, I am very interested to expand on the biological aspect of mental illness and its connection with co-morbid physical conditions. I believe we should never stop learning. And most importantly, never lose the love of learning.

I have always been a good leader and public speaker. I hold my dad responsible for this as he was heavily involved in politics and would take me to rallies and political party meetings as a child. He was a full blown hippy from the 60s! I have this deep commitment to social justice installed in me from an early age and have expanded this to being an executive committee member for the University of Western Australia People for Animal Welfare club and debating captain in high school. I competed in speaking competitions in high school such as the UN Youth Voice and managed the inter-school debate competitions. I am a life long vegetarian despite coming from a farming family and believe in the ethical and health reasons behind a plant-based diet. In the future I want to be a leader and advocate for the promotion of child/adolescent mental health and be able to address the shortage of resources and government funding in this area. In particular, to increase access to services in rural areas.

I am a very independent person. Coming from a rural family background, a strong work ethic has been drilled into me from an early age and I have been working in some capacity since I was 14. This year at 19 I moved out and fully support myself financially by working 25 hrs a week in a professional job while studying full time. When I worry about the difficulty of medicine I tell myself that if I am able to do this I can probably handle the work required of medical school and future registrar training. Despite this, I constantly want to improve my qualities as perfection is nonexistent and it is so important to continue to grow as a person.

I currently work as a Behavioural Therapist (BT) with autistic children and have learnt so much through this experience. The work is very challenging but is so worth it to see the improvement in family and child functioning. The decision to apply for medicine is something many people I know are surprised at. I am on a definite pathway to becoming a psychologist and my fellow BTs are mostly provisional psychologists already. However, I feel drawn to medicine. I want to be able to look at and investigate physical illness as well as mental illness and be able to provide biological treatment as well as psychotherapy. I have so many varied interests in the area of health that I believe being a psychologist may not provide the full scope that I'm looking for. I do however believe that psychology is a very valued profession and I would be proud to call myself a psychologist if medicine does not work out.

In 20 years I hope to have completed all my subspecialty training in Child/Adolescent Psychiatry and Consult-Liaison Psychiatry or the Dual Fellowship program in Paediatrics and Child/Adolescent Psychiatry with particular expertise in child/adolescent psychosomatic medicine and neuropsychiatry. I want to be at the interface of mind-brain-body. There are not enough child psychiatrists out there and I hope to be one of the first to sub-specialise in the link between child mental health and diseases such as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), irritable bowl syndrome (IBS), autoimmune disfunction and neurological disease.

I hope my passion for both the arts and sciences will come together to provide a complete holistic approach in the treatment of my patients. I hope to never lose sight of how important every single detail is in working with children and young people. I hope that one day I might make a research discovery that will create a positive difference and to share my knowledge through teaching. I also hope to achieve one of life's most difficult but rewarding challenges; having a family of my own.

I sat the GAMSAT ^® exam for the first time in March this year. I was happy to pass in my overall score but I did get slightly under 50 for SIII which is no surprise since I hadn't studied chem/bio/physics since year 10. I am certain that with some structured teaching in these areas and some support to refine the humanities sections I will get a score that will hopefully get me an interview next year. I would never have been able to afford a course like this and am so grateful for this opportunity.

My childhood was consumed by a passion for dance. This reached a pinnacle at age 14 when I took the initiative to move away from home to study ballet in Sydney fulltime. During this time I completed my academic years 9 and 10 via correspondence however upon completion of year 10, I was required to choose between ballet and academics. Knowing that I would always be able to return to study and that a dancing career would not offer the same luxuries, I chose ballet. I was determined to achieve my aspiration of gaining fulltime employment with a ballet company within the next few years. Following several setbacks and moments that truly tested my desire and resilience, I achieved my goal and was accepted to join the Queensland Ballet Company. Like most of my successes in life, I predominantly attribute this success to tenacity and perseverance; two qualities I believe I have consistently demonstrated throughout my life and qualities I believe will allow me to be successful in future endeavours.

In 2011, after a successful 4­years fulltime employment with the Queensland Ballet Company, I fractured my spine and suffered from other associated complications forcing my retirement. Having immersed myself in the world of dance since age 3, I was unsure as to what my next career direction should be. Determined to not let this injury define me, I contacted universities and TAFE, attended meetings with academic advisors and course coordinators, attended mature age entry workshops and information seminars, and sat several exams that eventually resulted in me completing the Adult Tertiary Preparation course at TAFE. Due to the initiative I demonstrated during this crossroads, I am now nearing the end of my undergraduate degree and about to embark on a journey that I am sure will once again test my resilience, tenacity and perseverance­ my journey to medicine.

I have lived a very exciting and full life that has provided me with more opportunities and experiences than most people my age. I have travelled the world and achieved many of my dreams but have also experienced times of hardship, sickness and non­successes. I have learnt that sickness is horribly scary, and as a patient you completely and whole­heartedly entrust your health with your doctor. Because of these experiences I have grown to believe that becoming a doctor is a vocation that if carried out with empathy and selflessness, can allow you to have a meaningful and positive impact on the lives of others, a vocation I believe would be immensely rewarding. It is this gratification that I feel is driving me to be successful in my future aspirations of being a doctor.

In 20 years time I hope to have achieved my registration as a medical specialist. I hope to have positively impacted the lives of many patients and their families and I hope to have accomplished this by adopting a more holistic approach than is commonly utilised by current medical practitioners. Further to this, coming from a regional town in New South Wales, I have experienced the divide in accessibility to specialist medical care between rural and metropolitan areas and as such, hope to contribute to bridging this gap in years to come.

I have sat the GAMSAT ^® exam once before and although I achieved a mark higher than I had anticipated, it was still not high enough for me to progress through to the interview stage of the application process. I walked out of the exam, not so much daunted by the process, but more eager to begin studying for the next exam, as I believed furthering my essay writing skills and increasing my knowledge of chemistry could improve my score.

Key attributes, abilities and personal strengths in leadership that I have consistently demonstrated throughout my life are integral as a medical student and as a future doctor leading a medical team. Having seen the genuine interest of doctors in their cases and motivation, highlighted to me the privilege of being involved in such a rewarding and stimulating profession. I am confident that my enthusiasm, extremely high work ethic, and thirst for knowledge are needed to succeed in this fulfilling vocation.

The healthcare patients receive today is built on years of clinical research. As a result, I am currently lead author in four research papers; in addition, several other small side projects. I have successfully presented my different areas of clinical research as oral and poster presentations at various conferences around Australia. I trust my experiences and research capabilities will provide an important basis to facilitate my learning during medical vocation but also during my medical career.

I started a fine arts degree that I got into through portfolio pathway, however, I soon began to miss maths and science. I never understood society dictating that one must choose either art or science. I am now completing my psychology degree as it provides a good mix, however, I am very interested to expand on the biological aspect of mental illness and its connection with co-morbid physical conditions. I believe we should never stop learning. And most importantly, never lose the love of learning.

The Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience (AIME) program is an inspiring new program proven to connect indigenous students with post year 12 opportunities, including further education and employment. As an active member and a mentor, my involvement and experience has been highly satisfying and rewarding. This experience has cemented the need and development of focused leadership, communication skills and cultural understanding. I strongly believe that work done in the spirit of service yields the greatest outcomes and even greater is giving back to the community through acts of voluntary service. My involvement in the AIME program enabled me to give back to the community by assisting in building a generation of future leaders who strive to create a culture where for every step you take forward in life, you throw your hand back and bring someone with you.

The Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program (JYSEP) is another program that has enabled me to utilize my leadership skills while serving the Australian community. My involvement in the JYSEP assists young youth (between 12‐18 years of age) in developing their spiritual qualities (virtues), intellectual capabilities and capacities for service to society. The participants in this program come to see that they can become positive agents of change in the world.

I have always taken a great interest and initiative in students learning and education. In turn, I have tutored and assisted students in key subject areas including; pharmacotherapeutics, pharmacology and physiology. This has been a pivotal experience in developing my leadership skills and more importantly, supporting students to follow their dreams and achieve their future goals. I look forward to one day being able to assist future clinicians in their medical aspirations.

Having spent a significant amount of my childhood in rural area (River Lands in South Australia) with my grandparents, I have seen the shortage of health professionals, especially in more remote indigenous communities nearby. I also feel that modern medicine should attempt to bridge the gap between indigenous and non‐indigenous Australians in terms of health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, chronic otitis media, rheumatic heart disease and lower life expectancy discrepancies. This has been further cemented through my involvement in the AIME program. I look forward to developing and providing the skills necessary to work within these areas and provide the services that are currently in short supply.

There would be multiple things in life that drive me, however if I was to list a couple of key drivers they would definitely include: ensuring patients health and well‐being, serving my community, teaching, helping others pursue their dreams, getting through hurdles that life has thrown at me, knowledge, and success.

To have built a self‐sustainable educational hub for those who are disadvantage, and who are unable to afford an education. This educational facility will support students to follow their dreams and achieve their future goals. Most importantly, to have chased my dream and completed my medical training in the field of cardiology.

I have sat the GAMSAT ^® exam before and although passed, did not progress to the interview stage for my first preference medical school. I am confident that the Millennial Scholarship will assist my preparation for the 2016 GAMSAT ^® exam to successfully gaining admission into my desired university.

I critically think about situations that I come across, which allows me to understand the reasons behind them and brainstorm ideas on how to improve the way in which things could be done next time. I have a creative side and thrive on coming up with new ideas. I've inherited my parents' generosity, kindness and mathematical brain, which has me naturally learning towards community service and finding problems to fix.

I have applied these qualities through leadership roles in work, sport and volunteering. Currently, I am involved in the establishment of a research facility within a retirement village, focussing on healthy ageing initiatives, including Dementia prevention. This facility not only contributes essential research data toward dementia prevention, but by through its location within a retirement village we are also bridging the gap between research outcomes and clinical practice in the ageing community. As this is a new research centre, we are doing the best we can to establish funding. We need to exercise our resourcefulness constantly to get what we need done, especially amidst our current $1.5 million dementia prevention clinical trial.

I show initiative in all aspects of my life. I am a big believer in team-work and love team sport. My sport of choice for the past 5 years has been roller derby. l was lucky enough to progress to Team Australia try outs last year. Currently, I am founding a Roller Hockey league in Sydney and have organised a large group of skaters, coaches, the venue hire and training sessions. I saw the need for Roller Hockey in Sydney so I used my skills to help begin the budding of the sport in my town. Whilst a member of my Roller Derby league I questioned why we did not have an established first-aid committee for such a dangerous high contact sport and such a large group of skaters, sitting just under 100 people skating. I am now head of first-aid for the league and have established policy and protocol surrounding injuries, guided a group of twenty first-aid officers and facilitated their training and ongoing safety development through workshops where visitors are invited to present.

I am constantly open to developing new qualities and continuously gaining insight and knowledge from new experiences. I am looking forward to the world of medicine combined with research where I will never stop learning and never stop being fascinated and humbled by the human body and mind.

I feel fulfilled when I see gaps in processes or problems that need fixing and then successfully getting them fixed. I enjoy possessing skills that can fix problems. I enjoy contributing to projects, organisations and the community. I love to be inspired, as this is when l have the most energy. People inspire me - everyone has a story and develops into their own complicated self. The human body is a complicated array of processes that can go wrong, I love that I will never know everything in medicine and science and that I will constantly be learning and building on my knowledge.

Currently, there is a lack of holistic care in medicine and a lack of translation from research outcomes to medical practice. Using my initiative, resourcefulness and ingenuity I am hoping to become a doctor and open a brain health clinic where patients will be treated and can connect with specialists in every field. I hope to help bridge many gaps in medicine through my own multi-functional clinic. Although the focus will be on the brain, this encompasses many fields such as nutrition, exercise, mental health, paediatrics, neonatal care, ageing, naturopathy, surgery and research - I want to encourage a collaborative approach to medicine and research. I also hope to use my qualifications and skills to contribute to disadvantaged communities, nationally and internationally, and use my leadership skills to guide and teach.

Up until now I have lived life based on the qualities that are most important to me, as they allowed me to get through the hardships of life. These qualities include resourcefulness, initiative, ingenuity and passion. Having a high regard for these qualities made me aware of the help my parents needed to conquer the economic hardship that we faced ten years ago when we arrived in Australia. After really understanding what the first few years of living in Australia were going to involve, I took action by being proactive in mainly minimising the financial burden I was to my parents. I then began to look for ways to help my parents financially. I sold caramel slices at the local football games (a great success) and l capitalised on this by selling hand-made jewellery along with the slices. I offered every dollar I made to my parents. Although my parents were always reluctant to take the money, it did help to pay for my school expenses (excursions, buying textbooks, uniforms, calculators and the yearly school photos)

Although a nice gesture, $60 wasn't going to rip us out of poverty and seat us comfortably in a mansion. I felt I could do more. Learning English, although easy for me, was frustrating and spirit breaking for my parents. Seeing me progress in language gave my parents the inspiration to look for something more than just back breaking labour. Once I was fluent in English I was ready to pass on my knowledge to help them improve. I clearly wasn't an English teacher but I found a way to help improve their English. Firstly, I simply encouraged the family to speak English at home. And secondly, I wrote English exams for them to sit every month, designed using templates of year 7-8 school English tests.

I started a fine arts degree that I got into through portfolio pathway, however, I soon began to miss maths and science. I never understood society dictating that one must choose either art or science. I am now completing my psychology degree as it provides a good mix, however, I am very interested to expand on the biological aspect of mental illness and its connection with co-morbid physical conditions. I believe we should never stop learning. And most importantly, never lose the love of learning.

My father is now applying for his Honours in Psychology and my mother is in a professional position in rural Australia.

I firmly believe that the last ten years have defined who I am today. Having experienced the hardships of moving to a foreign country and working towards where I am today, I have learned that with passion and perseverance one can always find the light at the end of the tunnel. I lived life based on these principles and this allows me to continue to follow my dreams, regardless of the obstacles along the way.

I hope to experience another twenty beautiful years of life, full of hope, learning, love and happiness. I would first like to travel the world and experience life amongst different cultures. I hope to finally be able to speak Portuguese within the next ten years (which I've always wanted), but most importantly, I hope to have achieved full registration as a doctor and be heading towards a career in paediatrics. Towards the end of the twenty years I hope to have a beautiful family of five.