Read Payia's inspiring journey

My name is Payia Yangsaoye. I come from a minority group in Laos, where a girl has less chance to pursue a higher education and it is impossible to go study abroad.

I had been working as a ChildFund Pass It Back coach back then. I taught life skills to children in my community, which sparked my interest in working with the community. It is a dream come true to move here to pursue a higher education in Australia. I have experienced a new culture and education system, which is very interesting and challenging for me.

I have chosen this course because I wanted to develop my knowledge and skills in this field based on past experience that engaged with young people and children in my community, and I believe it will help me build a strong career in the future. I want to gain practical knowledge that I can apply in real-world situations.

The best part of my study experience so far has been meeting new people from different backgrounds and age groups, as well as learning new concepts that challenge me to think differently.

At the moment, the course is going well. Some parts are challenging, such as language difficulty, cultural differences, different contexts, and different public systems, but they are also helping me improve my understanding and confidence in the subject.

After completing this course, I plan to use the knowledge and skills I have gained to pursue job opportunities in this field back in my hometown and continue developing my professional career.