Across six celebrations held around Australia, the Australia Awards community came together to honour the remarkable journeys of scholars who are helping shape stronger, more connected, and more resilient communities across our region. At each event, an Australian Government Minister shared insights on the value of international education and global partnerships, and a scholar offered a personal reflection on their academic and leadership journey.
Today, we highlight the inspiring contribution of Paul John C. Legaspi, an Australia Awards scholar from the Philippines currently studying at The University of Adelaide. His words, shared at the South Australia event, offer a powerful glimpse into the impact of the Australia Awards program and the bright future our scholars are helping to build.
Dear scholars and friends. What a privilege and challenge to speak to you today. It is a privilege, because I have been given this rare opportunity to address the brightest people South Australia has. It is also a challenge, because I am addressing the brightest people South Australia has. Borrowing these words from Adele (the singer), I invite everyone to “go easy on me” today. I pray that I will be able to speak what matters to you most in this special gathering.
If there’s one thing I have learned to value here in Australia, it is the importance of acknowledging our stories, our past, and our roots. I would like to begin by saying Marnii Niina Pudni, a special welcome message from Kaurna which means “good you came.”
Each person here today brings with them unique heritage and aspiration. Each of you carry experiences and expertise that must be acknowledged and valued. What I am most grateful about the Australia Awards experience, beyond gaining a master’s degree, is the opportunity to know and learn from your stories. My fellow Filipino scholars I called family, that makes Adelaide a home away from home; my fellow scholars from around the world who shared their culture with us, that I am proud to call friends; and everyone here in Adelaide and Australia who warmly embraced us, loved us, and made us feel good that we came.
Australia Awards makes possible the impossible, that is bringing us all together. This is what makes Australia special from other countries I’ve been to. Here, diversity is acknowledged, valued, and celebrated. Here, I feel safe to ask questions, especially when I don’t understand. Learning begins when we accept that we don’t know everything and that we are willing to change for the better. To all educational institutions who are here today, thank you for creating safe spaces for students like us to learn, to be curious, and to succeed.
Let me now acknowledge a story of someone I personally know. This person is a great friend to many and known for her unparalleled cooking skills. She always reaches out to anyone and loves to serve. She’s a proven community leader, not because of great leadership skills, but simply because she genuinely loves the people she serves. Above all, she is the most compassionate person I’ve ever known.
And probably the reason she’s remarkable is because this person has never been a stranger to hardships. She didn’t have the chance to finish high school. At age 18, she became a mother. She had to leave her hometown to find better opportunities to survive. Later, she became a single parent. With no education to gain employment, she had to wash other people’s laundry, by hand, and sell meals on foot, so her young children could survive. But despite this, she never gave up. She was known for her motto: Walang talo sa ayaw sumuko. In English, “There is no defeat to those who never give up.” She didn’t get to leave any fortune for her children when she passed in 2013, but she left them with so much more: an undeniable example of determination and perseverance, confidence to dream, and an eternal lesson of compassion towards others.
She may not have realised it then, but her story and example have greatly influenced many lives now. I am here today because my mother never gave up. I am here today because she gave hope in this difficult life by not letting her light grow dim. I pursued Australia Awards and hope to make a difference when I go back to my country because she believed in me, and her story is a living reminder that there’s still a lot of work to do to make our world a little better.
I know that this story is just one of many untold stories of people who sacrificed so much and paved the way for us to be here today. In the coming years and decades, another person will have the opportunity to share someone’s story that changed his or her life. And that story could be yours. It may seem insignificant now, but everything you do matters. I shared my mother’s story because I hope we realise how much impact we can make in the world today and in the future just by choosing to persevere. The most powerful gift that God has given us, beyond any talents and skills, is our power to choose. It is our choice that brought us here together. It is our choice that led us here in Australia. And it is also our choice that will shape our future.
Our Australia Awards experience is a testament to the many sacrifices we and our loved ones made to reach this far. May this experience also be a catalyst for us to change lives of others today and in the future.
If you can only remember two things from me, may I invite us all to consider these choices moving forward in our Australia Awards scholarship:
- Choose to Connect – Beyond the degree, the power of our Australia Awards journey comes from the connections we are building here. Staying connected is how we pay forward to this remarkable privilege. There are plenty of resources and support available for us scholars once we have completed our studies. Let us make lasting connections and keep our scholarship experiences alive.
- Choose to Grow – Despite the vast learning and skills we obtained, our Australia Awards journey is just a means to a greater end and purpose. Lessons are only learned when we finally apply them in our daily lives and in our own sphere of responsibilities. We are leaders in our fields and in our communities. May we strive to practice and share what we learn. May we use this scholarship experience as a launchpad towards continuous growth and development.
The most important choice we will make now is what happens after our studies. Our Australia Awards journey doesn’t end when we return to our countries. We’re only halfway through. As we acknowledge and celebrate our heritage, stories, and aspirations, we become more rooted to thrive. The best part of your life’s story is still yet to be written. The choice is yours to make.
