When Alan Shrestha first landed in Australia, he was carrying two heavy suitcases, a quiet dream and, by his own account, a heart full of doubt.
“Everything felt foreign, the air smelled different, and every face belonged to a stranger,” he recalled.
“I never thought I would be standing on this stage today.”
Recently, he stood on the stage of the heritage-listed Parramatta Town Hall as valedictorian of the Class of 2026, one of 121 international students graduating with a Bachelor of Business from Churchill Institute of Higher Education. They graduated across majors including Accounting, Information Systems and Hospitality.
Shrestha, who received the Dean’s Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement, used his address to speak for a cohort that had left home to start over. “So many of us made the hard decision to leave our homeland, our familiar streets, especially home-cooked meals,” he told the audience.
“We carried the weight of starting completely over, learning about a new culture and we did it.”
His thoughts were also with Nepal, which has recently been hit by deadly flash floods. Shrestha paused his speech to honour the lives lost and thanked the Australian government and the Australian public for sending aid. “It is a powerful reminder that the bond between our two nations goes beyond the classrooms and cities,” he said.
Shrestha saved his most personal words for his parents in Nepal. “Every single thread of this degree belongs to you,” he said.
“My name is printed on this degree, but it was written first by your sacrifices, your youth, and your love.”
More than 65 graduates attended the ceremony to receive their testamurs from Professor Brendan Boyle, Chair of the Institute’s Governing Council. It was the first graduation for international students at the Institute, which admitted its first cohort in March 2023.
David Knight, CEO and Dean of Churchill Institute, described the first graduating cohort as an important milestone for the Institute.
“I am extremely proud of our first cohort of graduates,” Knight said.
“Their achievement reflects their hard work and commitment and marks an important milestone in the Institute’s three-year history.”
Assoc. Prof. Ali Abusalem, Deputy Dean and Course Coordinator – Hospitality & Management, described the occasion as an academic achievement.
“Witnessing our inaugural cohort progress from the classroom to the graduation stage is an immensely proud moment for our academic community,” he said.
“Their achievement establishes a powerful benchmark and an inspiring legacy for the students who will follow.”
He said the graduates’ resilience had been evident throughout their studies.
“Many of these students balanced demanding coursework with the challenges of settling into a new country, and they did so with determination and good humour,” he said.
“As educators, our greatest reward is seeing them leave not only with a qualification, but with the confidence and practical skills to contribute meaningfully to Australian workplaces and communities.”
Looking ahead, Shrestha urged his fellow graduates to embrace uncertainty.
“Take the risk. Take the opportunity. Take the leap, even when your hands are shaking,” he said.
“You have already done the impossible once, now go out there and do it again.”
Churchill Institute’s graduation comes as international students continue to make up a significant part of Australia’s higher education sector, contributing to the education sector, the broader economy and multicultural communities.
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