Aspire Students - Media Profiles

Anthony Silvestrini

For Anthony Silvestrini, involvement in the UWS ‘Aspire’ program is a chance to expand on leadership skills already honed during high school.  In years 11 and 12 Anthony was active in his school’s Student Representative Council, where he says he loved helping the schools other leaders, and being a role model for students at his school.

Anthony is studying his Bachelor of Music at UWS, with a focus on the performance elements of the course. He writes original music, sings, plays guitar, piano and drums and wants to ‘have a crack at every instrument there is.’  His choice to study at UWS was influenced partly by its proximity to his home in the Blue Mountains, but also for its atmosphere, which he says has a ‘focus on students, rather than just pumping out degrees.’ The reputation and achievements of other students in the Bachelor of Music degree also helped cement his decision to start at UWS in 2008.  He plans on using his degree to establish a career in performance, ideally fronting a band with his multitude of musical talents.

Anthony says his main leadership skill is his flair for public speaking.  He loves the anticipation and nerves before a speech, and revels in the feeling of accomplishment when ‘it begins to flow together.’  He credits his Italian background for his gift of the gab, and says that the feeling of giving a good speech is similar to his love of performing music.

He has great respect for the ABC’s satirical team ‘The Chaser,’ for their irreverence and opinionated views, and admires how they aren’t affected by bad reviews or disparagement.  As Anthony says ‘to be a leader, you can’t get blown down by criticism.’  In leaders, he admires those that display honesty, integrity and good listening skills. All traits he hopes he will develop in his ongoing involvement with the ‘Aspire’ program.
Anthony is hopeful that he will be able to contribute his enthusiasm and ideas to ‘Aspire,’ as well as sharing his skills at public speaking with other students at UWS.   He says that ‘time will tell’ what his ultimate contribution to the program will be, but hopes that his qualities of honesty, efficiency and enthusiasm will help the Aspire program in the years to come.

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Alexander Krjatian

Alexander Krjatian has a plan to make absolute poverty history, using business and economics as his tools.  At just 17, Alexander has started his own company, which will follow similar principles to the Virgin Group run by British entrepreneur Richard Branson.  Alexander’s business model involves having a business Group that will own subsidiary companies. His first company – Sachas Installations – is about installing energy efficient light bulbs in households in the bid to reduce global warming. In the near future he is planning to start his own Charity providing a percentage of profits from his enterprises towards sustainable help, education and life-saving infrastructure to help those people living in absolute poverty.

When speaking to Alexander, you can’t help but notice his absolute passion and love for life, which he says, is something that ‘everyone, no matter their beliefs, culture or race should have’; and he’d know. Alexander has lived in four countries before arriving in Australia. He was born in civil war-torn Georgia, and passed through Germany and New Zealand before arriving here. He credits the many people he has met along the way for providing him with his motivation to make a difference in the world.

Alexander says that university was never an ambition for him, as he ‘wanted to start off as an entrepreneur as soon as he had finished school,’ but decided to study as a way of keeping abreast with his colleagues.  While at the University of Western Sydney, Alexander will be studying a Bachelor of Business Commerce: Advanced Business Leadership, which he believes will put him in good stead for taking a management and leadership role later in life.  He says the degree also has a great reputation for incorporating industry experience, and giving students contact with the businessmen of today. Alexander appreciates the approach that UWS takes to its’ students, as it isn’t based only on their marks or UAI, but also on the depth of the person’s character and potential.

Being part of the ‘Aspire’ program is ‘an honour and privilege’ for Alexander, who says he can’t wait to make contacts, mingle with industry leaders and be recognized as one of the top students of UWS. He says his enthusiasm and determination to achieve set goals will be a valuable asset to the 2008 ‘Aspire’ team.  First on his list of personal targets is to set up a cake shop franchise when he leaves University, and there seems to be no doubt that he will achieve this, and inspire others on the way.

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Alexandra Ward

Alexandra Ward is unique to many of her peers, as she does not like technology, and ‘prefers to write rather than use a computer.’  In fact, she only found out she had won a scholarship with the University of Western Sydney when her father noticed an attachment to the email that detailed her admittance to her chosen degree. 

While at UWS, Alexandra will be studying a Bachelor of Applied Science – Naturopathy, though she says it was not what she ever thought she would end up studying. 

During high school, Alexandra was ‘more focused towards the arts, and actually didn’t do any science subjects in year 12.’  She says however, that she and her family have always had ‘an interest in alternative or more natural therapies.’  This seems to be working well for her, as she hasn’t been to a doctor since she was a little girl.

Alexandra says her experiences so far with UWS have been very positive, saying that she likes the small size and spread out nature of the campuses, as ‘it allows me to get face to face with important and high-up people, and to be recognized as an individual.’

As well as her attitude towards technology, Alexandra’s leadership skills are also unique to many others in the ‘Aspire’ program. She has a strong background in one-on-one mentoring, having been part of her school’s ‘Daily Dose’ program, in which she helped younger students with their schoolwork.  She says she can also contribute strong organizational skills, a good work ethic in group projects, and the important talent of being not just a good leader, but a good team member.

Alexandra hopes being part of the ‘Aspire’ program will help her develop leadership skills which she ‘knows are there, but just haven’t really been tested yet.’  She thinks she has the ability to be a good leader, and hopes the program pushes her out of her comfort zone.  She says she enjoys being tested in different ways, describing her involvement in Year 12 Drama as ‘one of the most overwhelming and challenging experiences’ she has had.

With the ‘Aspire’ program only in its beginning stages, Alexandra says the friendship and bond she has formed with the other members ‘guarantees its success’ and that she ‘can’t wait to grow with, and be a part of the project’s creative process.’

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Naomi Cooper

Naomi Cooper says that for her, ‘a life without music is unimaginable’ and that she listens to and loves almost every genre of sound there is.  She is studying a Bachelor of Music at the University of Western Sydney, and plans to use her degree to ‘make a difference with music,’ whether it be as a teacher, performer or youth worker. 

Naomi’s current plan is to do a Masters of Education once she finishes her Bachelor degree, but says that even if she ends up as a teacher, she will always ‘be able to be found doing a gig in a café somewhere.’

Naomi is mostly self taught, and plays guitar, piano and also sings.  She says she auditioned at Universities around the state before choosing to come to UWS, because of its atmosphere where she feels she is ‘engaged on a personal level with the university.  Naomi was also attracted by the contemporary aspect of the Bachelor of Music Degree, which she says is more relevant to the study and teaching of music in modern society.

Naomi could be described as a natural leader, and was the school captain at her High School in the Blue Mountains.  She says her leadership strength is her ability to communicate well as ‘a great listener and well as talker, I’m good at relating to people from all backgrounds.’ 

As the Chair of her school’s Social Justice Committee, Naomi says she further developed her interest in human rights, and says that for her ‘being a leader is not about having power, but about giving power to others.’  It’s a quality she admires in famous historical leaders such as Gandhi, and Martin Luther King, and a skill she hopes to develop.

Naomi says that being a part of the ‘Aspire’ program will be particularly valuable for her, as ‘so much of the music industry is about who you know, so the internships and workshops will provide me with crucial contacts and networks

She says that the lessons and skills she has so far been taught as part of the ‘Aspire’ program have been life-changing experiences. In particular, she says that the camp that everyone in the program attended during February allowed her to ‘reflect on myself, where I was going, and where I want to be.’

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