When Adam Bonner’s mobile phone rang during school hours in 2011, he doubted whether he should answer it, but did.
The message from that caller would transform his future.
“It was morning tea at school and I got a phone call from my father. He was crying.” Adam said.
“Fearing the worst, I asked what was wrong and he said ‘Adam, you’ve got the scholarship. You’re going to be able to go to university.’”
Adam had been offered a place in the Young Achievers Program (YAP), which focuses on nurturing and developing the educational ambitions of participants through mentoring, financial assistance and opportunities for personal growth and leadership development.
The scholarship was a greatly needed lifeline. Despite working hard at school and attaining strong grades, there was significant doubt whether he would get the opportunity to pursue his dreams of studying at UQ.
“The early years of high school had been really tough on my parents financially and emotionally,” Adam said.
“Being accepted into the Young Achievers Program was an enormous source of pride and relief for my parents.
“It empowered me with the skills and knowledge necessary to excel at school and created this undeniable motivation for me to realise my potential – and go to university. I felt like nothing could stop me.”
Adam recently graduated from UQ with degrees in both Commerce and Business Management, and now works for one of the ‘Big Four’ consulting firms.
You can help students like Adam Bonner overcome financial hardship and achieve their dreams by donating to the UQ Young Achievers Scholarship by clicking on ‘Give Now’ below.
