Pamela Murphy (Fr 2020) was elected the Honorary Secretary of the 2022 House Committee. Studying a Bachelor of Arts/Advanced Studies and hailing from Hong Kong, she shares some thoughts about the year ahead:
What do you hope to achieve in your new role as Honorary Secretary?
Working alongside Lis and Hannah on the executive team, as well as collaborating with the House Committee, there are so many goals we want to bring alive in 2022. Our focus for next year is inclusivity, respect and support. We believe using these words as a base for all our decision making will assist in achieving the best 2022. On a personal level, as Honorary Secretary I would love to introduce more programs for international and rural students coming to college, much less Sydney for the first time. At times I really struggled with living away from home particularly in first year, so I would love to assist future students who are in the same boat.
How did you find the election process?
I have a love-hate relationship with the election process! I was so nervous going into the election night, I made sure to have my mum on speed dial for either a celebratory call or a disappointed chat. Nevertheless, I was more excited than anything to find out who the new 2022 leaders were going to be! Getting together with Lis and Hannah in a corridor straight after the election process was finished, we were all just as surprised as each other! After the excitement has kind of worn off, we are ready to kick off what should be an amazing 2022.
Do you think the celebration of 20 Years of Undergraduate Women at St Andrew’s will affect your leadership?
The celebration of 20 years of Undergraduate Women at Drew’s will only enhance our leadership for 2022. With an all-female executive team, I am so excited to represent and honour the women that have passed through St Andrew’s College as well as work alongside them to create an even better future for the incoming group of amazing women. Being a part of such an integral year is something I’m incredibly proud of.
What made you choose St Andrew’s?
Being completely honest, I was not sure what any University Colleges were when I was in high school, let alone St Andrew’s. After a quick Google scroll of ‘places to stay University of Sydney’, I stumbled across St Andrew’s College. My initial interview led me to believe this was not some average student accommodation, however, somewhere I could make lifelong friends and develop as a student and most importantly as a person. Moving from Hong Kong, I really wanted to ensure I found a place in Sydney that would become home. With St Andrew’s having such a large community and a focus on academics, sport as well as cultural activities, I knew it would be a great fit for me.
What other extra-curricular activities have you taken part in at College?
One of the first pieces of advice I got from my mentor, Annie Nikolovski, on Welcome Week was to throw yourself into everything, even if you do not think you’re very good at it. Despite having two left feet, by the first week at college I was trialling for Palladian dance and although I was not successful (shocker), I loved how anyone and everyone was getting involved in the selection process. My main area of interest, however, is sport as it has been a huge part of my life ever since I was young. Since being at Drew’s I have represented the college in Netball, Soccer as well as in the female rugby 7s team. I have loved being involved with sport in other means such as volunteering for athletics and commentating for both Rugby and swimming. Assisting year 12s through the student mentoring program and attending the political discussion group ‘We Need to Talk’ has been another means of exploring my strengths within Drew’s.
What’s the best thing about College?
For me personally, the best thing about College is the way for which it is truly my second home. With my parents and siblings in different states and countries, Drew’s has become my family. I have been able to make friends with the most amazing people who share such a variety of talents and passions such as consulting, athletics, golf, freestyle skiing and everything in between. I feel as though Drew’s has allowed me to broaden my career, sporting, cultural and leadership horizons in a way I definitely didn’t expect.