Verren Lo from Jakarta always enjoyed computers and solving mathematical problems.
“When I was younger, I would sit at my computer for hours, playing maths puzzles. My parents encouraged me by saying I was doing something useful which I also enjoyed,” Verren said.
When she completed high school, she just missed out on direct entry to university.
“I felt disappointed. I always wanted to study data science and am good with numbers so not getting the right mark was a setback,” she said.
Verren researched different study options and decided on UTS Insearch, the pathway to UTS, studying its Diploma of IT, which allows entry into second year of the UTS degree.
The decision proved to be very rewarding. She won three academic prizes – including two for her IT studies.
“I received a Grade Point Average of 10 out of 10 in my first semester and received the Dean’s Merit Prize for UTS Foundation Studies. For my IT studies I topped both my first semester and the whole course. It was amazing and such an emotional journey coming from not feeling I like to could pursue my dreams to success,” Verren said.
“It feels great to be a prizewinner because I have always highly prized my UTS Insearch experience. I loved being a student volunteer and taking prospective students around the beautiful UTS campus.”
Verren is currently at UTS studying a Bachelor of Science in IT with a major in Data Analytics.
“I want to become a data analyst because I like to tell stories using data,” she said.
Apart from student volunteering, Verren also participated in the UTS Insearch Peer Mentoring program where she helps other IT students to ensure all have the acacdemic help they need to succeed.
Peer mentors assist in classes to clarify terms, assist students prepare for assessments and class activities, facilitate classroom engagement and participation, and make it easy and comfortable for students to ask questions and seek support with their studies.