First published 1 June 2020
Growing up on a macadamia farm in the Northern Rivers of New South Wales before moving to Mt Isa, Jordan was the first generation of his family to go to university.
“I was very fortunate to grow up in a scenic and community-oriented part of this country, and it has left me with an appreciation of what Australia has to offer and what I can offer in return.”
Jordan explained that even before his move to Brisbane, he had developed a strong view of the university.
“Previous graduates from my high school had enrolled at QUT, and it always seemed to excel in a range of disciplines.”
When Jordan was accepted into a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) at QUT, he moved from Mt Isa to Brisbane, noting as each week passed, more bills started to appear.
“Furnishing a house from scratch, as well as footing a bond, is no easy task.
“By the time my first semester began, a large hole had replaced where all my savings once were – I had to work full time to afford food and bills.”
Jordan ended up missing his first two weeks of class, and one day after ending the week on his third 11-hour shift at work, he came home exhausted.
“I had $5 in my bank account and had to decide between eating lunch or putting money on my GoCard so I could go to class – then, my phone buzzed, and I saw an email from QUT.”
Jordan described how this email brought about a world of change.
“The support that I’ve received through the Learning Potential Fund has seen me through my degree, at times where I didn’t think it was possible to continue.
“I could pay my rent and buy food. But most importantly I had time to study which meant my GPA improved along with work opportunities, setting me up with contacts and networks for the future.”
When asked what he would say to Learning Potential Fund donors, he expressed his gratitude for their generosity.
“I’m grateful that future students, across all faculties and experiencing times of difficulty, will have someone looking out for them.
“Your donations are not just financial assistance, but an investment in student potential.”
If you are able to help students like Jordan, please consider supporting our QUT Community Appeal.
