Lucy Haig’s parents met at college in Melbourne and speak fondly of their on-campus living experience, so Lucy decided to give it a go for herself.
Ascham alum Lucy Haig (above left) wanted to broaden her horizons by moving interstate for university, and living at Trinity College at the University of Melbourne was always part of the plan. ‘My parents met at Trinity and I’d heard so many amazing stories of their time there and the lifelong friends they made,’ she says.
‘I thought it would be good to change my whole life and meet new people and have new experiences … I’m absolutely loving it. The community is so welcoming and I’ve made so many friends, which was my ultimate goal. It’s also been really enjoyable to see what it’s like to live independently away from my parents but still in a supportive community.’
‘Ascham sets you up really well for college and university life. Ascham’s Dalton Plan really pushed me to learn how to plan my time,’ says Lucy. ‘In addition to school, I was also competing at a national level in water polo and I had to organise myself to do both things well. I trained for the national water polo squad for three years and made the final selection for the World Juniors competition but it got cancelled because of Covid.’
Lucy is now studying commerce in a Melbourne University pathway program towards a master’s degree in engineering, and she’s also joined her sister on the University of Melbourne water polo team.
‘Now I’m away at college I have to be even more responsible for my own time management. At Ascham, I’d already learned how to balance doing a lot of things at a high standard and I’ve found the independence I’d learned at school has been really helpful at university,’ she says.
‘There are so many things to get involved in at college but academics are still a priority. The Dalton Plan gave me the skills to take responsibility for my own learning and get in touch with teachers if I was having problems. It’s the same with university tutorials. Even though it can be a little intimidating, there’s nothing wrong with asking questions. My most difficult subject this semester is Calculus 2 … and it’s been wonderful to get additional support from a Trinity tutor. She’s given us a tool box of methods to see different ways to tease out solutions to difficult problems.’
But all work and no play is no fun. So Trinity injects plenty of fun into university life.
‘Trinity is such a great environment to try new things. Everyone is so positive and the atmosphere is very inclusive and flexible. You can do things once a week or once a month, depending on your schedule. I’ve been in the tennis competition, got involved in the casino night for charity and I tried AFL for the first time. And I was in Survivor (the Trinity version), which has been really fun with quizzes and sporting challenges and more. It’s a great way to get to know people in different ways.’
‘Our formal hall dinners are also great for the community vibe when everyone in the college is there. Often sporting teams or charities will be celebrated at High Table and there is a real sense of occasion.’
Lucy also participated in a six-week leadership program for Trinity freshers organised by Josh Farr of Campus Consultancy. ‘We examined the sorts of problems we’re likely to face and learned a range of skills to help us become better leaders,’ she explains.
‘There are so many things you can get involved with that you didn’t know existed. It’s hard to put it all down on paper. Trinitarians are such a passionate bunch. They’re passionate about what they’re doing and they’re passionate about Trinity. It is such a great community when you are studying and living life.’
By Susan Gough Henly
