For Sarah, studying at the University of Newcastle has been an unexpected choose-your-own adventure.

“I never thought I would study at university,” Sarah said, “but I took a chance and it’s one of the best things I’ve ever done.”

Studying at the University of Newcastle has led her to further explore her passion for environmental sustainability, and now in her final year, she works one day a week in the fresh air of a local urban farm focused on sustainability as she finishes her degree. Her involvement with the farm started as a work placement offered through her degree and progressed to paid employment.

Sarah grew up in a small town in the Hunter region, and after completing year 11, went on to take a full time job working in corporate life for a law firm until she was 20. However, she was keen to do something more. Taking a chance, she dropped down to part-time work and enrolled in the pathway program, Open Foundation.

“The staff were extremely supportive,” she said, “the study options were great, and I very quickly knew that this is where I wanted to be.”

Following completion, she was offered a place in Law, but after deferring changed her offer to Environmental Science.

“I started my first semester and very quickly learnt how much science and I do not get along!” laughs Sarah. “I knew I wanted to study environmental sustainability but knew enviro science wasn’t right. I got in contact with Student Central and discovered Development Studies and that is when everything just started working out. Three years on and I am absolutely loving my degree!”

Sarah has loved the range of topics she has been able to study throughout her degree.

“It really is a choose your own destiny degree,” she said. “Obviously, you have core courses that you need to complete, but you undertake quite a few electives, and the opportunities are seemingly endless.

“I have studied things I never thought I would be interested in and actually loved them! You get to give so many things a try and have the opportunity to focus on what you really like, which is quite unique for an undergrad.”

Sarah has loved that she can explore many new ideas and that her degree can lead in so many directions. It’s given her the opportunity to develop, explore and deepen her passions.

“My idea of my dream career has changed about 100 times since beginning my studies. There isn’t just one trajectory - you can find something that you like and focus on that. You get to decide.

“The courses and the placement I have undertaken over the last 12 months has really cemented what I feel passionate about – that is, equal opportunity, access to healthy local food and a system that supports that.”

Sarah’s study journey continues, but meanwhile, she recommends to others like her to take the leap into further study.

“I can’t recommend doing a bridging course, such as Open Foundation enough. It allows you to understand the university’s processes and gives you insight into what is required of you as a student.

“It allowed me to find my feet with studying after quite some time off and realise what I am passionate about. There’s a lot of flexibility – if you start a degree and realise it’s not for you, change things up, like I did, until you find what’s right for you.

“It’s never too late to start,” she said.

Study development studies at the University of Newcastle

Sarah Bortfeld `

Sarah Bortfeld

Studying various courses of interest, exploring new ideas and having the opportunity to deepen her passions allowed Sarah to make the most of her studies.

I have studied things I never thought I would be interested in and actually loved them! You get to give so many things a try and have the opportunity to focus on what you really like, which is quite unique for an undergrad.