Matthew
Coming to Marden
Marden allowed me to pursue a Year 12 course that was not available at my own school.
Experience at Marden Senior College
I studied in the evening class to complete Stage 2 Geology. It was an excellent learning environment and the course was well structured, I found that it made my first year of university Geology much easier. In my class, many students came from different schools and it was interesting to see friendships develop. I met different people I wouldn’t have, had I not chosen to study at Marden. Some even continued to university with me.
The most important thing I learnt at Marden, apart from the knowledge, was skills in self-directed learning. Marden treats students like an adult. I very much appreciated this environment. It allowed me to really have control over my learning.
At Marden I was taught how to think critically, something that I’ve used in every aspect of my life. Being a scientist truly changes how you see the world.
Achievements to date
I was able to enter my first preference university degree due in part to my academic achievements at Marden. I studied a Bachelor of Science at University of Adelaide and specialized in Geophysics and Environmental Biology. I finished my bachelor degree and completed my post graduate honours year in Geophysics, where I wrote my thesis on gravity anomalies associated with mineral bearing faults. Since graduating I have done contract work for a geophysical consultancy, performing magnetic surveys in the exploration of minerals in the south east of the state.
I’m currently applying for graduate positions at large companies and in addition I volunteer with the Australian Society of Explorational Geophysicists (ASEG), planning events and networking.
My goal for the future is to be in an occupation where I can apply my knowledge and skill set in order to somehow better society, the state or the country.
Message to students
There’s a quote I like from General George S. Patton. “If everybody is thinking alike then somebody isn’t thinking.” With science this is increasingly true; always question what you see and always look for different ways in which something can be explained.
