How Foundation Studies and a Diploma paved Eunju Na’s path forward

If there’s one thing Eunju Na knows, it’s that “everyone has a different life and a different starting point”. 

Eunju is currently a Bachelor of Science student at UNSW Sydney with a keen interest in materials science and chemistry. Her plans for the future include continuing onto an honours year and pursuing further research in the field that has captured her interest over the past few years. 

It’s hard to believe her path forward wasn’t always so clear. In fact, Eunju started her higher education journey without a strong academic background in science, finding the subject matter challenging and difficult. It was her Foundation Studies program and Diploma at UNSW College that helped her find her feet and ultimately, her passion. 

Originally from South Korea, Eunju enrolled in UNSW College’s Foundation Studies because she came from a non-English-speaking background and didn’t have a strong existing academic background in science.

“I felt that the Foundation program would provide a more supportive and structured pathway to help me build both my English and science knowledge before starting university. It also gave me the opportunity to become familiar with the UNSW learning environment and prepare more confidently for my study.”

Once on board, she found the Transition Program she’d chosen offered the right supportive learning environment that could help her build her confidence. With the help of smaller class sizes, regular consultation sessions, and approachable tutors and advisors, she found ample opportunities to ask for help when she needed it – improving her skills and knowledge over time. 

“The most important skill I learned through the program was resilience. When I first started, I had a large knowledge gap, especially in science, and I struggled a lot in the beginning. However, I was fortunate to have very supportive tutors who encouraged me and helped me whenever I was struggling. 

Through that experience, I learned not to give up when things became difficult. Instead, I learned to ask for help and work through things one step at a time. That experience really shaped the way I approach challenges, and it is something I still carry with me in my studies today.”

After completing her Transition Program, Eunju opted to continue her studies at UNSW College with a Diploma of Science, feeling she still had some gaps in her academic knowledge and English language confidence compared with other first-year university students. 

Progressing to UNSW Sydney 

By the time Eunju progressed to UNSW Sydney, she had grown from a student who “really didn’t know what [she] wanted to do in the future” to a more confident science researcher ready to take on second year of her Bachelor of Science. 

Her time at UNSW College “wasn’t always easy”, she admits.

“But I kept trying and challenging myself instead of giving up, and I think those experiences have made me who I am today. I kept trying new things, and sometimes I failed, but through those experiences I slowly found what I was interested in and what I wanted to pursue.”

When looking back on her experiences, she feels particularly grateful for the depth of personalised advice, support and care she received throughout her UNSW College journey. 

“I especially want to thank my academic advisor, Georgia, my student advisors, Julia and Leon. They supported and encouraged me during some of my difficult times, and their advice really helped me keep going.

 I’m also especially grateful to my Physics lecturer, Shannon, and my Chemistry lecturer, Kakali. Shannon was the person who made me really enjoy physics, while Kakali helped me discover my interest in chemistry. As I became interested in both subjects, I naturally became more interested in materials science, which brings together different areas of science. Their classes had a big influence on the direction I chose for my studies and where I am today.”