A World Away

“I wanted to really push myself, to go where I didn’t know anyone and meet new people and study in an institution rich with academic history,” she says. Founded in 1413, the University of St Andrews often ranks first or second on The Times newspaper’s university league table. It attracts a diverse population from more than 130 countries, another source of its appeal for Daisy. “No one knew anyone – they were all in the same situation as me.”

At School, Daisy was an exceptional humanities student, gaining a place on the HSC Honour Roll for four-unit English. Now enrolled in St Andrews’ Master of Arts degree, she is majoring in International Relations and Philosophy, with politics and current affairs as her primary focus.

For Ms Daisy Keeble (2020), the cobblestone streets of the ancient town of St Andrews, echoing centuries of Scottish history, are worlds away from the gates of Wenona.

Always keen to challenge herself, Daisy embarked on the biggest adventure of her life so far when she enrolled at the third-oldest university in the English-speaking world – the University of St Andrews, Scotland.

The application process was rigorous, with much reliance placed on the personal statement in the absence of interviews. “I wrote draft after draft - with much support from my teachers,” she says.

Daisy departed Sydney in 2021 during the lockdown. Now, almost a year and a half later, she is feeling very much at home. “The halls are really beautiful old buildings. The town is small but has everything we need … and of course, St Andrews is where Prince William and Kate Middleton studied and met. There is even a café in town bearing a sign that they went there for coffee!”

The town of St Andrews is also known as the ‘home of golf’ and enthusiasm for the sport has taken hold in Daisy too. She plans to start lessons soon and move off campus and into town.

In August this year, the long northern hemisphere summer holidays provided her with the chance to return home to see family and friends. One highlight of her trip was visiting Wenona. “It was wonderful to be back. I talked to the Year 12s about my course, showed them photos and discussed the application process. Hopefully, more girls will consider international study.”

With respect to her own future, Daisy is considering all options. “I will have the chance to specialise in my final year, which I am contemplating. I would love to go into political consulting of some description. I may even end up in the United States. I plan to take advantage of every opportunity and have absolutely no regrets.”