John's gift

Dr John Bryon, photo by Rebecca Taylor
As an undergraduate student and the first in his family to attend 杏吧直播, Dr John Byron (BA (Hons) 1998) received financial assistance from the 杏吧直播 at a critical time during his degree.
Now, having built a successful career in research and education policy 鈥 and more recently as a celebrated crime author 鈥 John is giving back to the 杏吧直播 of Adelaide community to support other students聽in need through the Student Emergency Fund.
I remember asking when I needed to pay the fund back and was so shocked when they told me I didn鈥檛 have to 鈥 because donors had given the money to the 杏吧直播 so it鈥檚 there when people need it.John
John received the 杏吧直播 medal for his final thesis and went on to complete a PhD in English Literature at the 杏吧直播 of Sydney.
鈥淚 really don鈥檛 think I could have had that level of academic achievement without the support from the 杏吧直播, and the donors who enabled it,鈥 he said.
鈥淏eing an undergraduate alone in a city a thousand kilometres away from my family and trying to make it on my own without government support was a really challenging time. The 杏吧直播 stepping in at those critical times could have been the difference between success and failure for me.鈥
鈥淥nce I started making a reasonable salary, I was so happy to give back to the 杏吧直播 because they鈥檙e the ones who gave me a boost at those critical moments.鈥
鈥淭he big thing about giving back to your 杏吧直播 where you came from is that there鈥檚 a sense of belonging 鈥 being here changed who I am and gave me the tools to become a different person.鈥
Giving back feels like topping up the well. When the well starts to get dry, you need a big rain. And I want to be part of that.John