Learning is for life

Student Support

University of Adelaide graduate Adnan Glinac knows all too well the benefits of additional support while studying.

Adnan was in his late teens when he arrived in Australia from Bosnia in 2000 with his mother and sister. It was at a crucial stage in his high school education, and he lacked confidence in himself and his English.

Adnan joined The Smith Family's Learning for Life program as he began Year 11. The support received from The Smith Family has an enormous impact on young students, providing them with a financial scholarship to assist with educational expenses and access to a network of support and development programs to help them with their learning.

A naturally gifted student, Adnan was accepted into the University of Adelaide to study for a Bachelor of Mathematical and Computer Sciences.

Transition from school to university can be hard for any student, especially those who face some kind of disadvantage, which is why The Smith Family created the tertiary mentoring scheme.

"As part of my tertiary scholarship from The Smith Family, I was offered the help of a mentor and I jumped at the chance to have someone with real-world experience help me through the difficult transition from high school to university," Adnan said.

"I was a bit lost when I got to uni - the university environment is very different, and I was very insecure. It can be pretty daunting, especially when you don't know many people and don't really know what to expect."

With the help of The Smith Family, Adnan was matched with a mentor - David Pender, Associate Lecturer with the University's Business School. According to Adnan, they "hit it off" the very first time they met.

"David was great from day one," he said. "He was really interested in my development and helped me settle into university life."

Adnan and David met every month during his first year, talking about his studies and sharing their experiences. Over the next three years they developed a strong rapport, with David providing much needed support and insight.

"I knew I could go to David with any problem, and if I hadn't gone as well as I thought I would, or if I was struggling with a particular subject or topic, he was always there and always offered encouragement," Adnan said.

"It wasn't just the academic side of things - his advice and his assistance in a wide range of areas has been extremely helpful to me over the years."

By the time Adnan was in his final year, he was meeting David every fortnight and beginning to plan his career path, identifying employment opportunities and negotiating the difficult and challenging final exam period.

"He's helped me to think ahead and to think of the bigger picture, and because of his encouragement I've definitely gained some confidence. I certainly feel like I've grown a lot over the last few years," Adnan said.

Adnan graduated from the University of Adelaide last year and is now working for Lifeplan Funds Management as a Project and Research Coordinator. David and Adnan still keep in regular contact.

Adnan said the support he received from The Smith Family has been extremely positive, and he hoped that others would continue to benefit from the program.

"There is no bigger gift to give someone than an education - it's a real head start to life. The Smith Family has helped to give me that head start," he said.

The University of Adelaide is a supporter of The Smith Family's education and learning programs.

The Smith Family's Mid Year Appeal starts in May. For more information about Learning for Life or to make a donation, call 1800 633 622 or visit: www.thesmithfamily.com.au