Advocating for a cause: meet the UQ Law student committed to giving back

Give now to The Queensland Commitment

Image of a young man with very short hair and a grey/blue long-sleeve shirt. He is syanding in a dark room with his hand togehter and he is smiling slightly at the camera. — Sam in the Moot court room at the UQ Forgan Smith building.

Sam, a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) student is a great example of using his education to help others.

After finishing school in Year 10 and spending some years in the workforce, Sam decided he wanted to study and pursue a career helping others.

“I want to be able to have a positive impact on people's lives,” Sam said.

Determined to study law, Sam undertook bridging courses to unlock opportunities to study at university. After years of hard work, Sam was accepted into law at UQ, benefitting from a scholarship – an act of generosity that changed everything for him.

“Receiving this award made me feel as though I have what it takes to make a difference for myself and for those around me.,” he said.

Sam is the first in his family to attend university and is committed to creating positive change in our community – especially for Indigenous Australians like himself.

Image of a young man with very short hair, glasses, white jeans and a blue long-sleeve shirt. He is walking through the sandstone columns outside at the Great Court at UQ — Sam walking through the cloisters in the Great Court at UQ.

“Throughout my life, I've been touched by the generosity of others and the fact they have gone out of their way to help someone like me. I'd like to pay it forward by helping others, so I can continue that spirit of generosity and sense of community.”

The Queensland Commitment – UQ’s pledge to improve equitable access to education for students across the state, aims to support students like Sam who need extra support on their path to attaining their degree.

By supporting The Queensland Commitment, your donation will allow more Queenslanders the opportunity to participate in critical pathway programs and provide crucial support for students to achieve their goals at UQ.

“The difference that can be made in somebody's life – as someone who has felt the profound impact of another's generosity – is extraordinary. Words cannot possibly describe the impact that these scholarships will have and I encourage anyone considering donating to The Queensland Commitment to dig deep and witness the positive change that your donation can have on a student.”

Your donation is instrumental in empowering students like Sam to pursue their goals at UQ.

Together, through The Queensland Commitment, we can create lasting change for Queenslanders, now and for generations to come.