Looking back at my time at The Knox School, I remember it as a place that really let me explore who I was. Coming to Australia in 2017 from China to start high school was a big shift, but TKS provided a supportive environment that helped me find my feet. I always had an interest in how things worked and how logic applied to the world, which naturally led me toward technology and IT.
When I was in school, I knew I wanted to do something technical. After graduating, I went on to study Computing and Software development at the University of Melbourne, graduating in 2023. Today, I work as a software engineer. It’s a career that demands a lot of focus and analytical thinking, which I find really rewarding. It wasn’t necessarily a “winding” path, but I’ve learned that a professional career is just one part of a person’s identity.
Outside of my 9-to-5, my life is a bit louder. I’ve always been passionate about motorcycles, and that interest has evolved into competitive racing. A major milestone for me was competing in my first round of the Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) at Phillip Island recently. It’s a huge challenge to balance the technical demands of software engineering with the physical and mental intensity of racing at that level. But strangely, they both require the same thing: total precision.
If I could give one piece of advice to students at TKS right now, it would be this: You don’t have to choose between being “practical” and following your passion. I think there’s often a lot of pressure to pick a “right” path and stick to it. My experience has shown me that you can be a dedicated professional during the week and still pursue something completely “wild” on the weekends.
Success isn’t just about your job title; it’s about building a life where you have the space to do both. Don’t be afraid to have interests that don’t “fit” together on paper – those are usually the things that make your journey the most interesting!
