Now a third-year Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts student at the University of Sydney, Dana Horiun is building a future while carrying the weight of the one she left behind.
She hasn't seen her father in almost five years.
"It breaks my heart that he only gets to see my life through photos and videos," she says.
Those experiences have shaped who she is today - and the lawyer she hopes to become.
Just a few years earlier, Dana's future looked very different. Three years into a medical degree in Ukraine, she had planned to become a doctor. Starting over in Australia wasn't part of the plan, but it was there she discovered a different calling - and a place where she feels she belongs.
After Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Dana and her mother left their home in Dnipro and moved to Australia, where her grandmother had lived for more than 25 years. Her family had waited more than a decade for Australian permanent residency; when the opportunity finally came, it arrived under circumstances they could never have imagined.
Dana is particularly grateful to Professor Mary Crock, who helped her family navigate the permanent residency process. Their connection continued when Professor Crock invited Dana to translate her book True Roo: Little Walla and the Bushfire into Ukrainian. Illustrations from the book have been displayed in the Law School for the past two years.
"It took a long time to adapt and start a new life," Dana says. "I've been incredibly lucky to have my family, friends and partner supporting me, but there hasn't been a day where I haven't thought about the war."
Finding a new direction
Before arriving in Australia, Dana had completed three years of a medical degree and was convinced medicine was the right path for her.
"I was certain medicine was the perfect career for me," she says. "To quit medicine was a very hard decision for me to make."
Rather than immediately committing to another professional degree, Dana chose to explore her interests through a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Advanced Studies, majoring in politics and international relations with a second major in socio-legal studies.
"I wanted to understand whether I truly wanted to commit to a legal career," she says. "After a year, I transferred into the Bachelor of Laws, and I couldn't be happier."
Law had long appealed to Dana, but living through war deepened her interest.
"I always had an interest in the justice system, both in Ukraine and Australia," she says. "After the war started, my interest in the legal profession and justice system intensified."
She found herself drawn to the complexity of legal systems and the role they play in addressing some of the world's biggest challenges.
"The complexities of law have always captivated me and it is never black and white as it might seem," she says.
Finding her place at Sydney Law School
Dana first discovered the University of Sydney at Open Day. After speaking with current students and exploring the campus, she left determined to earn a place at Sydney.
"I always dreamed about living and studying in Australia since I was a kid," she says. "Receiving my admission email felt like a childhood dream come true."
After a year exploring her interests, transferring into Sydney Law School felt like the right next step.
"The teaching staff have been incredible. Every law unit has given me the opportunity to learn from experts in their field," she says. "I've also made some wonderful friends through the Law School, and I'm incredibly grateful to have them in my life."
Four years ago, I couldn't imagine living in Sydney and studying law at the University of Sydney
Dana Horiun
Third-year Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts student
Looking ahead
Dana's own experiences have also influenced the areas of law that interest her most. Studying Public International Law deepened her fascination with the relationship between law and global affairs, while criminal and immigration law have also captured her attention.
"I'm keeping my options open because a law degree offers so many different opportunities," she says.
For now, she is focused on learning as much as she can while embracing the opportunities that come her way. Her advice for students starting over in a new country is to be patient with themselves.
"It can feel overwhelming, especially when you're studying in a language that isn't your first," she says. "But the community is incredibly understanding and supportive. For me, yoga and music events helped me relax, meet new people and reset. Having something outside your studies makes such a difference."
Looking back, Dana still finds it hard to believe where life has taken her. While she doesn't yet know exactly where her career will take her, that's something she's comfortable with. What she does know is that the path she chose wasn't the one she expected, but it has given her purpose, a community and a future she's excited to build.
"Four years ago, I couldn't imagine living in Sydney and studying law at the University of Sydney," she says. "Never stop dreaming and dream big."