Returning to Prem International School: A Full‑Circle Moment in My Academic Journey

On 29 April 2026, I had the privilege of returning to a place that shaped me in ways I’m still discovering: Prem International School, my alma mater and the starting point of my academic life. Walking through the campus again—the same pathways I took as a teenager in Grades 10, 11 and 12, including my two formative IB years, between 2005 and 2008—felt like stepping into a vivid memory. So much had changed, yet the school remained unmistakably familiar.

I delivered a guest lecture titled “From Prem to Sydney: Building a Global Academic Career in Urban Planning.” Standing in front of today’s Grade 10 students, I reflected on the milestones of my academic journey, from my bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral studies and various teaching and research roles at Bond University to my current position as a Senior Lecturer in Urban and Regional Planning at the University of New England. I also shared with the students my personal yet life-changing lessons that shaped the person I became.

What surprised me most was how naturally the stories surfaced: the challenges of the IB, the excitement of discovering urban planning for the first time, the mentors who nudged me forward and shaped my career trajectories, and the moments of uncertainty that, in hindsight, were turning points. Sharing these experiences with students who are now standing where I once stood felt grounding, humbling and unexpectedly emotional.

Their engagement throughout the session stayed with me long after I left campus. It reminded me that reflection is not just a personal exercise. It becomes meaningful when it is shared. In giving back to Prem, I realised I was also reconnecting with the younger version of myself who once sat in those classrooms, imagining the possibilities the future might hold.  🌱 

I’m deeply grateful to the Prem team for making the visit so memorable — especially Lydia Sannella, who organised the session with such care, Ajarn Lucy Kyte, my former Maths teacher, whose warm introduction transported me straight back to my school days, and the IT team who ensured everything ran seamlessly. And, of course, to the students: thank you for your curiosity and your presence. You reminded me why teaching, and returning to one’s roots, matters.  🙏 

Two decades on, it felt like closing a loop, and perhaps opening a new one!