A University of Queensland student is balancing on the crest of a wave, combining her studies with a rewarding career in the Navy.
University students face many challenges during the course of their degrees, not least of which is combining study with employment.
For Bachelor of Science student Sally Hoskin this problem is intensified to the extreme. Her job takes her all over the world and means she often has to struggle just to get some peace and quiet or space to spread out her books.
Seaman Officer Sub-Lieutenant (SBLT) Hoskin, as her colleagues know her, is currently one of four Officers of the Watch (OOW) aboard HMAS Newcastle, deployed in the Middle East.
“My job is fairly demanding and keeping on top of my studies and managing time to fulfil my responsibilities to my job as well as my degree is a challenge,” she said.
“Space is something a warship lacks.
“Resources at sea are also an issue but the staff at the University have been more than helpful and willing to do what they can to assist me while I`m out here.
“I`m lucky that my command is supportive of my decision to study at sea and this helps me get things done.”
This semester 22-year-old SBLT Hoskin will be studying Urban Entomology and Insect Morphology by correspondence.
“Insects are so diverse and can teach us so much about the world around us,” she said.
“I intend to further my studies in entomology and hopefully study forensic or some kind of medical aspect of the field.”
UQ offers a number of entomology courses online through a remote based program.
Undergraduate students can use the courses to complete a Bachelor`s degree while postgraduate students can study for certificates, diplomas and coursework Masters degrees.
Although entomology itself is unrelated to SBLT Hoskin`s current position, she said studying, no matter what the subject matter was, gave her skills that were valuable to her as an officer in the Navy.
“It enhances my time management and planning skills as well as giving me something outside of my normal day job to focus my attention on, which is beneficial when you live on board a ship,” she said.
“The discipline gained from having an extra workload is invaluable and I find that being out here I have more motivation to get into my studies as it provides something different to think about and something that is unique to myself.
But free-time and space to study is in limited supply on board a warship with about 220 other people. And SBLT Hoskin`s workload can at times be heavy, as she is responsible for keeping watch on the bridge of the ship.
As an OOW, SBLT Hoskin is the Captain`s representative for the ship and is responsible for maintaining the safety of the ship, her crew and the equipment on board.
“My daily routine includes juggling my time on the bridge with the completion of my ancillary duties and any other additional work that may be required during the day,” she said.
“Somewhere in all that I fit in a bit of recreation time as well as sleep.
“The most exciting part of my job is when I am on the bridge with a million and one things going on at once, people talking at me from all directions and being able to coordinate everything so it all runs smoothly.
“Walking off the bridge after an especially difficult watch and knowing that it went well is a great feeling.”
SBLT Hoskin said combining life at sea with a degree could be demanding, with long hours and stressful situations. But she said it was one of the most rewarding things she had done.
“During my career I have been involved in many different exercises and activities including casualty evacuations, rescue operations, international warfare exercises, goodwill exercises and this deployment, which is my first operational deployment since I joined.
“My time in the Navy has seen me do many different things and meet many interesting people.
“I have travelled more than I ever imagined that I would before I joined.
“It`s exciting and both the Navy and my degree will offer me many avenues for a rewarding career.”
Media: for more information contact Chris Saxby at UQ Communications (telephone 07 3365 2479).
