Gurpreet Singh Sandhu receives multiple offers to pursue pharmacy career in Melbourne

Over the past month, Region has been profiling year 12 students in Griffith doing exciting things next year, to find out the high and low of their schooling life, role models, achievements, plans for the future, what they’ll miss about the Riverina, whether they’ll return after their studies and if so, why.

This week, we put Murrumbidgee Regional High School’s Gurpreet Singh Sandhu in our spotlight. The 17-year-old shares a name with a star Indian soccer player and enjoys playing the game himself. But his big plan is to study a Bachelor of Pharmacy next year and he is tossing up offers from Monash University, the University of Melbourne and others. Let’s find out more.

Name: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu

Age: 17

School: Beelbangera Public (primary), Wade High/Murrumbidgee Regional High School (secondary).

Best memory of school: I enjoyed the Covid-19 year when exams were cancelled and we got extra holidays.

Naughtiest thing you ever did at school: I almost caused an explosion in my chemistry class one day.

Teachers that inspired you: Mr Forrest and Mr Collis.

One thing you’d change about the education system: I’d prefer just the one assessment process, rather than two teachers marking the one assignment. I’d also like it if we did not have trial and just made assessment all module based.

Role model: My father, Gursewak Singh.

Famous person you most admire and why: Toby Maguire, the actor who played Spiderman in the franchise films, because I love Spiderman.

Plans for next year: I’ve got a few offers to study pharmacy and I’m deciding which one. I think I’ll probably go to Melbourne as my offers are with Monash University and the University of Melbourne.

Best advice you ever got from your parents: Work hard.

Social issue you most care about: Cancel culture. It’s gone on too much. Something from the past should not affect your future.

Special skills: Soccer, I used to play a lot. I speak Punjabi [a language spoken in northern India].

What will you miss most about Griffith: My family and some friends.

What won’t you miss about Griffith: The quietness and lack of activity. But I don’t mind it, I don’t find Griffith boring.

How will you support yourself financially: I’m going to be working while at university and I’ve also got a scholarship. It will pay for my accommodation for one year.

Will you come back to Griffith? Why/why not: Yeah, I think I will return because my family is here.

Dream career job: Pharmacist.