Language no barrier for student

Jasmine Schiks-Du received an OP1 and a scholarship from the University of Queensland.

Claudia Baxter

IMAGINE moving to a new country, learning a new language, and studying Year 12 at a new high school.

What would surely have been overwhelming for many people, Jasmine Schiks-Du took in her stride.

Not only did Jasmine manage to learn English, make friends and adjust to student life, she achieved an OP1 at Ipswich State High School and has since been awarded a $60,000 university scholarship.

The now 18-year-old moved to Moores Pocket from China at the end of 2010 and realised she would have to repeat her senior year in order to study at university.

She enrolled at ISHS at the end of 2010, and spent much of the summer holidays trying to improve her English.

"I watched TV for months to learn the language. I knew a bit but I had to learn a lot of the technical language for maths and science," Jasmine said.

Jasmine said she also had to adjust to lifestyle changes.

"In senior year in China you start at 6am and have tutoring sometimes until 11pm, and you attend school up to six or seven days a week," Jasmine said.

"I had so much more time when we moved here, especially over the holidays, which are so long.

"Getting used to managing my own time was a big challenge, and I still didn't get used to sleeping in," she laughed.

Principal Simon Riley said Jasmine had worked hard at school and deserved her University of Queensland scholarship.

"We gave Jasmine her textbooks at the end of 2010 so she could get used to the language in them, and when she started Grade 12 all the teachers realised she had actually done most of the work over the holidays," Mr Riley said.

Mother Mary Schiks-Du said she was very proud of Jasmine's achievements.

"She's done it all herself. We didn't need to tell her do anything. She knows what she wants and she works towards it," Mrs Schiks-Du said.

Jasmine will begin studying a dual degree in business management and chemical engineering at the University of Queensland.

She said she would use her scholarship to pay for course fees, study materials and perhaps a well-deserved break.