Current Bachelor of Science student Mia Young is proof that not knowing what you want to do when you leave high school isn't a bad thing. By embracing curiosity, Mia discovered a love of science, which led her to an unforgettable trip to One Tree Island.
I wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted to do after high school, so I initially began studying a combined Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Laws. Once I started at the University of Sydney, I was really drawn to the diversity of disciplines offered within the Science degree and found myself becoming more and more interested in how both the body and the world works, and I realised I wanted to explore that further. Eventually, I decided to drop Law and focus fully on Science, choosing to major in Anatomy and Histology, and Biology—two areas that continue to fascinate me and challenge me.
There were the unforgettable moments—like running down to the beach after dinner to watch turtle hatchlings scramble toward the ocean. I wish we could do it all over again.
Bachelor of Science student
Without sounding biased, the OTI trip has hands-down been the highlight of my degree so far. After spending many semesters studying experimental design, R coding and data analysis, getting the chance to apply those skills in a real-world setting was incredibly rewarding. Being able to conduct our own ‘real life’ research projects out in the field was such a special experience. We also had amazing support from Will Figueira, Bella, Alex, and the whole OTI team—their knowledge and encouragement gave us a huge confidence boost. On top of all that, I made friends for life!
Funnily enough, it was actually seeing Coral Reef Biology Intensive (Great Barrier Reef) listed as a unit that inspired me to choose Science at the University of Sydney in the first place. I hadn’t studied science in my final years of high school, but that course sparked something in me—and the trip to One Tree Island was a long-awaited experience that truly exceeded expectations.
While there were moments of confronting reality, especially seeing the impacts of climate change firsthand, I also felt incredibly lucky to be in such a pristine, untouched part of the world. We spent our days conducting fieldwork, collecting data for our own research projects, and immersing ourselves in the reef ecosystem. And then there were the unforgettable moments—like running down to the beach after dinner to watch turtle hatchlings scramble toward the ocean. I wish we could do it all over again.
My science degree has sparked two huge passions in me—helping people and helping the planet. I’m not entirely sure what the future holds yet, but I am so excited by the possibilities. What I do know is that I want to keep learning, whether that’s through further study, research, or hands-on work in the field. I’m incredibly grateful for the experiences I’ve had so far.
I’m definitely still figuring things out myself, but if I had to give one piece of advice, it would be to let curiosity guide you. My two majors might not seem like the most conventional pairing, but I’m so fascinated by both and that makes studying them incredibly rewarding. It’s also okay to change direction. For me, chosing to pursue science on its own was the best decision I’ve made. Law wasn’t the right fit, and letting it go opened up new opportunities. So what worked for me was to trust my instincts, and explore different paths — they lead to the most exciting places… like One Tree Island!
