November 6, 2019

Jack graduates with distinction despite disappointing HSC results

‘I wanted to prove I could achieve those marks’

University of Wollongong graduate Jack Nuske never dreamed of achieving a distinction average at university after underwhelming results in high school.

His ATAR didn’t allow him entry into a Bachelor of Exercise Science.

Instead of dropping his head, Mr Nuske applied himself, did a bridging course at UOW College, successfully completed it with high grades in 2015, and was offered a place in exercise science for 2016.

He worked hard from the start, and on 6 November, he celebrated his graduation from UOW with distinction.

“First year is crucial, it does influence your grades and your final year,” Mr Nuske said.

“It’s hard to change your marks overall if you don’t start well.

“I wanted to prove to myself I could achieve those marks, after getting my HSC results.”

He enjoyed the technical subjects the most, such as neuroscience and sensorimotor control of movement.

“There’s a misperception that it’s a party degree, and an easy degree, that couldn’t be further from the truth,” Mr Nuske said.

“There are no pushover subjects, I was doing many big hours in the library to get the marks I did.”

During the course of his degree, he spent eight months on exchange in the United States at the University of Colorado. He believes an overseas exchange program should be incorporated into every degree.

“The life experience that you gain is massive,” he said.

“It’s the first time I’ve lived out of home, you begin to realise how different other people’s worldviews are, and you learn to be comfortable with travelling on your own.”

Upon graduation he is one step closer to his dream of working as a physiotherapist.

Mr Nuske has been fielding offers from several universities, deciding on where to obtain his Masters degree.

He will need to move away from home, and is thankful for his time overseas, which has prepared him for the move.

What has drawn him to physiotherapy is the chance to help people.

Mr Nuske sees it as a labour of love.

“With the respect I have for the human body, what it does, why it does it, if I can make that a career, I won’t be working at all,” Mr Nuske said.

He has done a number of internships with sporting clubs including Sydney FC’s Youth Academy and clinics to get a taste of the profession and has been keeping an open mind about where physiotherapy will take him.

He’s gained satisfaction from writing conditioning programs for players recovering from injuries and helping patients to perform rehabilitation exercises with the correct techniques.

Graduation day was special for his family too – his grandfather, Walter is a UOW graduate, his father, Ross is a UOW graduate, and he will join his sister, Alison as a third-generation UOW graduate.