Vanessa is one of our 2017 Leadership Competition winners. You can check out her winning entry here and her bio below.
Describe yourself in 80 words or less.
My name is Vanessa Vu. I think I’m courageous and always up for a new experience, putting myself out there and making myself vulnerable only to gain more knowledge in any situation. I’m extremely passionate about learning languages and through travelling, meeting new people and making friends. In terms of schooling, I’m a persistent yet very competitive student where completing Year 12 has definitely been a challenge but as an ambitious person, the drive to do well has kept me focused throughout the year.
How old are you, what grade are you in and what community/town do you live in?
I am 18 years old, currently studying Year 12 at Renmark High School. I live in Renmark in the Riverland, South Australia.
Who is your role model and why?
My French teacher is absolutely my role model without a doubt. I can so easily relate to her on so many levels where she shares to me many of her experiences. She like me has been an exchange student and though this her love for travelling grew. The way she teaches and advises me to continue working hard makes me a stronger person and in many ways, I dream of following in her footsteps in the future.
What’s your favourite thing about living in rural Australia?
The freedom. No matter how much I love days out in the city – shopping, exploring the cliché city life, or eating out somewhere new, nothing draws me to the country more than simply having time to myself. I’m so grateful for where I live, and there are moments that I could never imagine not having anymore; like the lonely walks I take on the farm just to think and break away from the hectic world I really live in.
Why did you enter Country to Canberra’s Leadership Competition?
Nearing the end of Year 12, I feel more and more unsettled about the decisions I need to make to build myself a firm platform. After having lived independently overseas, I thought I would have discovered so much to the point where I would now have a clear vision of what my future would be like. However, it only made me more lost. For this reason, I just continue to take any opportunity possible to do and see new things, to hopefully widen my view on the possibilities up for grabs.
What do you hope to get out of the Power Trip to Canberra?
I just want to learn. I think that it is amazing to have been offered the opportunity to discover the capital of Australia and most importantly, the governing building, where the politicians really get down to business. I have not yet been fully immersed in the political domain where the complicated topic somehow intimidates me. I would like to get an insight on the position of women in parliament and from there, their positions in other aspects of the working world etc.
What’s your main goal/ambition right now?
My current plans and thoughts for the future mainly lie within the upcoming year. I have learnt not to look too far ahead and get lost in the confusion of adulthood when really, I am still so young. I aim to learn Spanish over the next year and throughout my gap year after completing high school, earn money to travel overseas for a short period of time. This way I can relax before preparing to head off to study again, for whatever career that may be.
What’s your favourite quote?
I cannot confidently say that I have a favourite quote because I continually read more and more and become inspired. Most of the quotes I read relate to travel and discovery since a massive amount of my Facebook friends are foreigners who have been on exchange. It somewhat makes me miss the life I had, living in France on exchange. In general, they give the idea of – just live, explore and make most of the moments you’re lucky enough to have.
Tell us a couple of things you do to relax/have fun?
I enjoy getting creative whether it be scrapbooking or cooking. I play the piano because it gives me comfort, something to do, and of course music. I love listening to music in general and so, being able to play it is simply a plus. Living away from my friends and family opened up my eyes. I really appreciate therefore, the people that I am around and treasure the memories we have when I am not with them.
How do people stay in touch with you?
I would say that I keep in touch with my friends more than I do with my family because, there is the chance that a friendship can end which is daunting. We keep in contact through Facebook and Snapchat and especially with those overseas, we try to video call (Skype) each other whenever we have the occasion. On the other hand, I live with my family and am in close contact with the close family and extended family members that I need to be.