From WA to an opportunity of a lifetime

As Harrison Main stepped off the plane from Perth in Canberra, he started a new life as a Tuckwell Scholar studying a Bachelor of Poltics, Philosphy and Economics. But it all started off with a few misgivings.

"I could not help but feel like I had been duped. Here was me thinking that I had left my life in hot, dry places behind for a fantastic sea change (lake change?)," he says.

"I came expecting Canberra to be a veritable winter wonderland. Instead I was greeted by a heat that would cause even the hardiest Western Australian some serious discomfort.

"Apparently my memories of Canberra from the obligatory school trip as a kid were somewhat misleading.

"Fortunately for me, whilst I was wrong about the weather, I was pretty spot on when it came to how much fun college would prove to be. My time at Bruce Hall has been seriously awesome and it is only the beginning.

"The independence of living on my own has not only been great fun but I think it has also changed me for the better. I consider myself a lot better able to fend for myself than I was during my high school years.

"The students and staff at Bruce Hall are passionate and friendly, which made the transition from living with my parents an easy one. The social and academic environment that college provides is something that I hope more students have the opportunity to experience. I will be the 2015 Secretary for the Bruce Hall Common Room Executive.

"As for the academic side of things, well, there is always next year, right? I am of course referring to the fact that I have transferred into undergraduate law for 2015. I now masquerade as one of the many new ANU students who have chosen to study law. Little do they know I have a year of university under my belt.

"Honestly, it is great to be surrounded by so many driven and ambitious people in the Tuckwell program who each have their own talents and strengths."