The Power of Persistence

The Power of Persistence

Written by Nikita Blom

During the 2024 Christmas holidays, senior student Benjamin Li spent two weeks at the Australian National University (ANU) as part of the Australian Science Olympiad’s (ASO) Summer School. He was one of only 24 students selected from around Australia and the first Brisbane Grammar School representative for chemistry.

The two-week intensive program was an invitationonly opportunity for students who excelled in the notoriously difficult ASO chemistry exam. Summer School immersed them in advanced theory and practical experiences under the guidance of esteemed ANU academics, providing a taste of university life.

“It was great to attend lectures and ask questions about advanced problems,” Benjamin said. “Sharing ideas with other students after class was invaluable.

“Being able to spend time with the other students after class was great because everyone was from somewhere different and we all brought different strengths and ways of thinking.”

After attempting the program in Year 10, Benjamin was even more determined, so he and a small group of peers embarked on another 12-month self-led journey, knowing it would take time, persistence, and creativity to succeed.

If it matters to you, challenges you and makes you excited for the future, you have to work hard and let failure push you forward.

Head of Chemistry at BGS, Courtney Rubira, applauded Benjamin’s determination and knew he could achieve his goal.

“Benjamin is very driven and passionate. He made it happen for himself,” she said.

In Year 11, Benjamin faced even more complex tertiarylevel content in topics like stoichiometry, redox, and kinetics. “Consistency became very important,” he noted.

His hard work paid off when he achieved an excellent outcome on the 2024 exam and received the invitation to Canberra. Now considering university applications and informed by his ASO Summer School experience, Benjamin advocates for the program alongside Head of Science at BGS, Noël Chan.

“It was an excellent experience I’d recommend to anyone willing to put the time in. It prompted me to consider different possibilities, especially in medicine,” Benjamin said.