The proud graduate of Yass High and this year’s joint Young Citizen of the Year is about to embark on a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Scholar), majoring in Mechatronics at the University of Wollongong.

The end goal would be to build bionic arms and legs, an occupation that has the potential to take him anywhere in the world: a prospect he finds enticing.

“One thing I like about technology is it transcends different cultures. A technology path can  take me wherever I like.” 

So how did a young man who has lived most of his life in Yass become interested in such an esoteric field?

“I was always handy with technology,” the younger child of Tom Young and Alison Gibson explained. “When I was younger I played video games.”

Then a short, extra-curricula program at Yass High opened his eyes. 

“They taught us how to make games instead of playing them. I enjoyed seeing code I had written turn into something.” 

Cue imagination… “I thought about what would happen if I did it on a large scale.”

The future dux of Yass High made a decision that instead of doing the HSC and seeing what courses he could get into, he’d work hard so he could do the course he wanted. He’d seen his older sister Heidi achieve great results from her hard work two years ago and was inspired to do the same.

He opted to stay at Yass High as his out-of-school life was already full. With a program that included playing the piano daily as well as his sporting interests of running, soccer, snowboarding, surfing, skateboarding and skiing, he decided time was too precious to waste on a bus.

“The best thing about Yass High was we were just much more community based. Everyone knew each other, we were friends both in and out of school. I didn’t have to split my time between Canberra and Yass. I didn’t have school in one place and soccer in another.”

“One thing I very much appreciated was, when I wanted to do Software, they had a Software teacher but no one else wanted to do it. They set up class just for me, one on one, for both Year 11 and 12. They took good care of me.”

The keen sportsman is ready to tackle Uni life with gusto.  

“The first year I want to get into everything, enjoy campus life, join as many groups as I can and meet as many people as I can.” 

But not before catching up with his grandparents, who are out from England, and taking a scuba diving course.

Sam selected the University of Wollongong, the university his sister attends, because “it had the exact course that I wanted, I loved the campus and it was the right distance: not too far, but far enough away.”

During term breaks, Sam will work as research assistant in the Mechatronics Department, a prospect he sees as a wonderful opportunity. He also knows the research shows most graduates in his discipline gets jobs easily. 

What is his advice to current students at Yass High?

“Start early. The earlier you start the easier it is. When you start leaving things to the last minute you get stressed. Stress is really debilitating. Everyone knows to do it: doing it is the hard bit. Just get started.”