The last couple of years of school are exciting and challenging at the best of times – and the class of 2021 had to deal with the pandemic and the move to online learning.

In this series of profiles, Canberra Daily speaks to class of 2021 graduates who excelled despite the challenges presented by the pandemic.

Anjana Muralidhar has always wanted to be an engineer, so she is thrilled to have a full scholarship to study engineering at UNSW ADFA in February.

“I like it, because it’s a way to apply science,” the ex-UCSSC Lake Ginninderra College student said. “To someone who enjoys all the STEM subjects – science, technology, engineering, and mathematics – it seemed like the perfect area for me. It’s where the future is, because without engineering, we won’t have our bridges, our electrical systems, and many other important things in the world.”

The last two years were characterized by lockdowns and off- and on-campus learning, but Anjana excelled academically.

“It’s been an interesting two years where I learnt quite a lot about being an independent learner, and also enjoying the experience that college has to offer,” she said.

She studied chemistry, English, specialist mathematics, specialist methods mathematics, and physics, and was one of two students from her college to receive the University of Canberra Vice-Chancellor’s award for best all-rounder.

She was selected for an ANU extension course in biodiversity, and received an early admission offer in engineering from there; was a member of several organising committees in the student community group; and took part in the global classroom conference, an international initiative where Australian students share knowledge with peers from the Czech Republic, Spain, the UK, Sweden, Germany, South Africa, and the USA. Last year’s theme, aptly: ‘Crisis causes change.’

Anjana was supposed to go to Germany to attend the conference, but because of coronavirus, the event was hosted online. “I guess the pandemic had another idea!”

The last couple of years might have been uncertain, but Anjana said the most important things were focusing on her goals.

“It was a test of self-motivation, and I learnt that, as long as I’m in control of my own goals, things will work out the way they should.”

Now, Anjana is looking forward to the next stage in her life – “And seeing how this whole new adulthood thing works out!”

“Thanks to all of my teachers throughout this whole student journey,” Anjana said, “and thank you to my dad for single-handedly supporting me throughout my student experience.”