While excited to accept an offer of their choice last year, 18-year-old Meg Hyde and some of her school friends have elected to put their university commencement date on hold for 12 months.
There are significant benefits for a student’s academic path as well as their career trajectory in taking a gap year.
For instance, a break from study enables them to explore different interests and gain experience and maturity before commencing their chosen course.
Particularly important also for country students is finding full or part-time work during the year to fund their educational and personal expenses if attending a university that requires them to live away from home.
For Meg, who has worked part-time in hospitality for some years in Cobram, the opportunity to work as a casual employee at Saputo was a godsend.
It is enabling her to get an idea of what it is like being part of a large team and understanding her role and obligations to fellow team members, while working four 10-hour shifts per week.
Working alongside people of various nationalities and cultures is interesting for Meg, who works in the nutritional section where infant formula is produced.
It is a learning curve and, while she is well paid for her endeavours, it’s an experience she will always remember.
It is also giving her a wonderful opportunity to save funds for next year when she plans to take up her course in Melbourne.
Meg has been offered a placement to study for a Bachelor of Social Work at Victoria University, where she hopes to live on-campus.
After discussions with her career adviser at St Mary of the Angels in Nathalia, Meg felt that studying social work complemented her interest in helping others.
She is looking forward to commencing the first of a four-year course in Melbourne in 2026 and catching up with friends at various universities while also making new friends.
Meanwhile, however, she is enjoying her year, adding to her bank account, having time with friends and making the most of being at home with her family.
Meg has also passed a milestone in her sporting career, having recently played 100 games of netball with the Cobram Football Netball Club.
She began in the sport while in Year 4 and loved the game immediately.
“All my friends played, and we had a terrific time and Erin Higgins, the mum of one of my friends, was our coach, and she was great,” Meg said.
“The first season I played either in defence or as a goal shooter. Today I play C-reserve as a defender and Sherrene Thompson is our coach. It has been a great season so far. We train twice a week, but because of my work I can only get to training one night. I do love the game and being in a team with my friends.”
Achieving her 100th game at the club was a proud moment for Meg, particularly when brothers Lachlan, 23, Hugh, 21, Eamon, 15, and parents Mary and Anthony Hyde made considerable fuss over their favourite netballer.
Meg’s siblings are well known in Cobram for their sporting talents.
There’s Lachlan, co-coach of the A-grade cricket side, Hugh, vice-captain of the A-grade side, and Eamon, a talented young footballer who was the 2024 leading goalscorer in the under-14s MFNL and dual recipient of the league best-and-fairest award.
Next year, while Meg is living and studying at Victoria University in Footscray, she’s hopeful of playing netball for the university.
Recently, the 18-year-old voted for the first time in Australia’s federal election.
“It was a bit daunting, being my first time, but I felt very mature and accomplished something I had never done before,” Meg said.
I asked Meg where she would like to be in five years’ time.
Did she have any particular aspirations for her life?
“Well, I will have achieved my degree and probably will be living and working in Melbourne and planning my future travels. I would love to visit Europe and the UK to begin with,” she said.
Turning 19 in September, this quietly confident young woman has the ability to achieve her goals and become who she wants to be, a qualified social worker helping others while listening and guiding them to a happier and more fulfilling life.
Does she have a bucket list?
Well yes, she does! It includes lots of travel to different locations around the globe, seeing spectacular sights such as the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Colosseum in Rome, learning to skydive and travelling extensively throughout South America.
And that’s merely the beginning.
