60 seconds with student: Marina Ibrahim
Marina Ibrahim is studying the Bachelor of Policing at the Penrith Campus. Marina is an Aspire Future Leader and recipient of an Academic Excellence Scholarship.
What has been your best experience at UWS so far?
It has been so rewarding to be part of the amazing UWS Aspire Future Leaders program that prepares you for life’s situations and experiences, all while connecting with industry professionals and representatives and other inspirational students. The annual welcome retreat was a highlight of my year as it allowed me to ease into University life, making life-long friends from a variety of courses before classes had started.
What has been your best achievement while studying at UWS so far?
Recently, I was lucky enough to be granted a position in a new policing internship program offered to 15 policing students this year on the basis of their grade-point average. It will begin in session two of second year and will allow me to spend one day each week with a host organisation, linked in some way to policing, and expand my experiences and understanding of such organisations. As well as this, the students in this internship program have started the UWS Student Policing Association, of which I am the Penrith coordinator, which aims to provide support by running events to inform students of the benefits of their degree and increase social interaction, and establishing an Alumni program for ex-policing students.
I would also have to say the academic side of my degree and definitely securing a position in the Aspire Program were great achievements and have opened many more paths that I can take.
What will we find you doing outside of your studies?
I currently work part-time at the University's Contact Service Centre, which is the first port of call for prospective local and international students and provides them with course information and information on beginning their study at UWS. As well as this, I've been building up my fitness to satisfy Police Force requirements and currently coach the local girls’ soccer team. I definitely love spending time with my family and friends and want to keep travelling with them.
How would your friends describe you?
I guess “dedicated” and “passionate” would be their main words used to describe me, but I would love to think that they find me caring and friendly towards them as well.
I am passionate about…
Definitely the law and issues in the justice system, particularly those concerning the police and how laws affect their ability to conduct their duties effectively. I generally follow these issues to see how they progress and find that as I usually have an opinion, debates on these issues specifically interest me.
When I graduate, I hope to…
…join the NSW Police Force. I hope to begin studying at the NSW Police College soon and I would specifically love to specialise in the Counter-Terrorism Unit.
