รรอลสำฦต

Brenna and Bronte Petrolo, pictured in their graduation gowns. Photo: Mark Newsham
Brenna and Bronte Petrolo, pictured in their graduation gowns. Photo: Mark Newsham

Graduation a family affair for Bronte

Graduation a family affair for Bronte

Sisters Bronte and Brenna Petrolo graduate on the same day

When Bronte Petrolo was choosing a place to study, the รรอลสำฦต (รรอลสำฦต) was a natural choice.

โ€œMy whole family has studied at the รรอลสำฦต. My mum has a Bachelor of Primary Education, dad studied electrical engineering, my brother studied materials engineering and my sister will be graduating on the same day as me with a degree in primary education,โ€ Bronte said.

Bronte, who celebrated her graduation on Tuesday (3 May) with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) (Sociology) graduating with First Class Honours and graduated in 2020 with a distinction in a Bachelor of Arts (Deanโ€™s Scholar) (International Relations and Sociology), credits her parents with instilling a strong value for education.

โ€œMum and Dad just taught us to make the most of every opportunity,โ€ she said.

โ€œThey taught us that studying is not necessarily about scoring the highest marks, but that working hard will bring its own rewards.โ€

After COVID delayed graduation ceremonies for two years, Bronteโ€™s sister Brenna will be donning a cap and gown on the same day.

โ€œWeโ€™re planning a family day trip down the track to celebrate. Itโ€™s really special that our whole family can celebrate together.โ€

 Brenna and Bronte Petrolo, both pictured in their graduation gowns, with their families. Photo: Mark Newsham

Bronte and Brenna Petrolo with their family on graduation day. 

Family was also a key theme of Bronteโ€™s studies with her honours year independent research project focussing on family relationships.

โ€œI really connected with the sociology of emotions study subjects.  

โ€œI'm very passionate about the private domestic elements of sociology, studies of family and gender. It really played to my strengths and my interests.

โ€œI had a lot of support from my supervisor, Associate Professor Roger Patulny, especially during COVID when I was studying in my room most days.โ€

รรอลสำฦตโ€™s campus life has been a highlight of Bronteโ€™s university experience.

โ€œIf you can come on campus and network with other students and make friends it really enhances the university experience.

โ€œMaking friendships that will last outside the classroom has been a highlight of my time here.โ€

โ€œI completed a lot of volunteering and co-curricular activities within my studies which led me to graduate with a รรอลสำฦตx Award for my significant co-curricular involvement. I also worked in casual paid roles with รรอลสำฦต. It is a great way to network and make friends!โ€

Bronte is now working in the Student Career Development Learning Team at UOW and considering studying a PhD later in the year.