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Shraddha Shakya wants to shape young lives

She graduated with a Bachelor of Business, but what Shraddha Shakya really wanted was a career supporting others. Now a student in the Master of Teaching, she’s learning how to educate and mentor the next generation.

You’re studying Master of Teaching at ACU Strathfield. Why did you choose ACU, and what do you love about the Strathfield campus?

ACU is one of the highly ranked universities in Australia and also provides value-driven teaching programs, so that's what really caught my eye. What I really love about the Strathfield campus is how spacious it is. The campus is beautiful. There are also a lot of student support services and extracurricular programs. It really helps international students like me to feel a sense of belonging in the community.

You received a scholarship to study at ACU — but you almost didn’t apply. Tell us about that experience.

I received the International Student Scholarship, which covers 50% of my full-time course fees. When I first heard about it, I honestly didn’t think I had much of a chance as it was highly competitive. But then I thought, why not try? So I submitted my application, not expecting much. When I found out I’d received it, I was genuinely overjoyed. It’s a huge encouragement, and it means a great deal to me, both personally and financially.

Why does the scholarship mean so much to you? How has it supported you to excel in your course?

In my degree, there are a lot of unpaid professional placements, which means I’m assigned to a school to gain professional experience for weeks at a time. It’s very hard when you can’t do paid work to cover your living expenses. This scholarship really helps to alleviate that financial burden so that I can focus on my studies.

You come from a business background, but now you’re studying a Master of Teaching. What inspired you to change careers?

For me, growing up, I was always taught that if you study hard, your life will be better. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve realised that it doesn’t work that way — you need to figure out what you actually want in your life first. My mum is a teacher and over time, I realised I wanted to follow her path. I feel like this journey is more fulfilling and is very close to my core values of making an impact on other lives.

What are your career aspirations after you finish your degree?

My goal is to become the kind of teacher I always wished I had. We’re often told that a teacher’s role is to teach the curriculum. But, I believe teachers have the power to inspire students to find meaning and direction in their lives beyond just academics. At ACU, we focus on play-based learning and the role of teacher as facilitator guiding students as they take the lead in their own learning. This approach truly aligns with my beliefs. I want to be the teacher who helps students discover their strengths and supports them in reaching their full potential.

ACU is in the top 50 universities in the world for education degrees and in the top three in Australia for international postgraduate student salaries. Choose a university that will prepare you for a world-class teaching career. Talk to our international student support team to find out more.