Thomas Drake

I grew up on the Central Coast, moving to Sydney when I started my studies in February of 2021. I graduated from High School in 2020 and came straight to UTS. I am the youngest of five kids in a very supportive family with amazing parents, who have inspired me greatly. Throughout my upbringing, I have always been involved in extracurricular activities from playing in and coaching sports teams to being a volunteer lifesaver. During my schooling, I always had a strong interest in Science and Mathematics.

In the early years of high school in a science class, one of my classmates mentioned Forensic Science, and since then, I have found myself very interested in that specific field of science. Once I got to the senior years of high school, I realised that I had a strong passion for Biology, and my amazing teachers - especially my biology teacher - really helped me develop this interest. This helped me to realise that Forensic Biology is what I really wanted to pursue, so I enrolled in Forensic Science at UTS. I decided to also enrol in a law degree as I think that the two degrees go very well together. My law degree has helped me develop a deeper understanding of the procedure and legal background relevant to the application of forensic science.

I was drawn to UTS because of its forensic science facilities. I first heard about UTS at a university open day, where one of the student representatives spoke about the amazing facilities and researchers that UTS has to offer. I was not confident that I would get the marks I needed for my degree, however, I worked hard and was lucky enough to be accepted at UTS!

I am passionate about biology, mathematics, and Justice. I want to use the skills and knowledge I am developing at university to help others. I have a real passion for Refugee Initiatives in Australia, and I hope to be able to use my education and experience to bring further awareness to these issues so that more can be done in Australia to confront and address these issues.

Even after just one year as part of the UTS community, I have had so many amazing experiences and met so many amazing and intelligent people. Joining societies at UTS, especially the Science societies, has been a huge highlight of my degree. It has allowed me to connect with like-minded people who have a passion for the same things that I do.  

Thinking back to year 12, I am amazed by how much has changed and how much I have learnt. I have been able to get a job in the legal industry and build connections with people from the Science industry. I have gained so much experience and knowledge since commencing my studies at UTS. I would never have thought I would have loved the University experience as much as I have.

I aim to continue learning new things every day and to develop more connections within law and science through networking at UTS. I want to be able to finish my degree with no regrets; getting involved as much as possible. I would love to gain experience doing forensic science and/or biology research projects or an internship in these areas. At this early stage of my degree, I am not set on what career path I want to go down after University, I just want to learn as much as possible while I am here.

I would honestly describe my degree as amazing. Both of my courses have a lot of hands-on interactive components with a perfect mixture of self-directed and independent learning. It is not an easy degree and it does take work, however, if you have a true passion for what you’re studying then you will excel and learn more than you could ever imagine.

If I could give advice to future students, it would be to not get stressed in your first semester. Everyone is at the same level; you are all adjusting to university and figuring out how to get the most out of your studies so take it at your own pace. Get involved in as many activities as possible as this is how you network; build relationships and you will learn so much from others.

UTS offers more than just an amazing education, you will also have the chance to be a part of a supportive and interactive community. UTS offers so many different initiatives and programs that have benefited so many students. I would really recommend coming to UTS. It truly is worth it!

I have been so lucky to be really involved in a lot of the Science societies from such an early stage in my studies. In my first year, I was on the General Committee for the Biotechnology Society, the Forensic Science Society, and the Maths Society. I have now had the privilege of being elected as the Maths Society President for 2022. I have been involved in so many fun experiences with the Science Societies, from the Science Camp to the Science Ball, and, I have met so many fantastic like-minded people who have really made me feel welcome moving to Sydney. I have gained the opportunity to work with and collaborate with intelligent, enthusiastic people as well as being able to connect to professionals. It has also been very enjoyable going to social events with these societies and making many friends along the way.