Breaking Barriers And Shaping The Future Evelyn O’Brien’s Path To Global Education

By Hannah McNamara

Inspiring and unstoppable are just two words to describe former St Pat’s student Evelyn O’Brien, who recently received a life-changing scholarship that will see her live out her dream career at just seventeen.

As she seizes each opportunity and breaks down common barriers, Evelyn is determined to create change and set an example for regional students in Mackay.

“I remember the day I got it - it was just an email that popped up, and I was at home alone… I jumped up and I just started crying.

“I called my mum immediately, and she started crying too.”

Those are the raw emotions Evelyn and her family experienced after realising she had been awarded the University of Queensland Ramsay Undergraduate Scholarship, allowing her to study a Bachelor of Humanities/Laws (Honours) with significant financial support.

The scholarship provides $32,000 per year for five years, covering education, living expenses, and even flight costs for a six-month semester exchange program.

Only 30 out of 40 students were chosen based on their academic ability, community service, and preparedness for the program of study—which required an ATAR of 98, which Evelyn admits to having been quite nervous about.  

“It was very nerve-wracking applying for it, knowing that 10 students weren’t going to get the scholarship who were in the course.”

“The ATAR requirement was 98, so I was just nervous about meeting the academic threshold, more or less having the extra qualities that they were looking for in the scholarship.”

Evelyn says that her parents are her biggest supporters, always encouraging her to strive for better.

“My mum is definitely my biggest supporter.

“She has always pushed me to be better and has always dreamed big for me.

“And without my dad's support, I probably wouldn’t have received the scholarship.”

Evelyn also credits her remarkable teachers from St Patrick’s College Mackay.

“I’ve had such a close relationship with some of the incredible teachers at St Pat’s, and without their continuous support and encouragement, I wouldn’t have gotten the ATAR that I needed…so I'm really grateful for them as well.”

Along with the support of her peers, Evelyn notes that hard work comes from within and encourages others - particularly regional students - to look at the bigger picture and keep chasing their dreams.

“The advice I would give to young people is definitely to dream big…but work for the dream.

“If I didn’t aim for the stars, I would have missed completely because I wouldn't have been looking up.”

Now, Evelyn is passionately advocating for regional students to follow in her footsteps, by giving local and rural students the opportunity to experience education overseas through her own not-for-profit organisation, RALI – the Regional Academic Leadership Youth Initiative.

“The main goal is to financially support students to attend similar summer school experiences overseas, primarily in relation to academics at universities,” Evelyn said.

“As regional students, we’re so disconnected from that world, mainly because we’re on the other side of the world, but also because it’s not something a lot of people consider.

“I want to recreate that opportunity and experience for other regional students.”

As Evelyn packs up her life in Mackay to live out her dream, she remains focused on the stars, hoping to one day work in an embassy as an ambassador for Australia.

‍

Evelyn O’Brien, a 17-year-old St Pat’s graduate, earned a life-changing scholarship and now aims to inspire regional students through her non-profit, RALI, helping them access global education opportunities. Photo credit: Hannah McNamara

Photo source: St Patrick's College Year 7-12 Mackay
(Facebook)