"It (NYSF) shifted my understanding of science from being just a school subject to something that could genuinely shape a career and future”
When Sauda Talukder attended the NYSF Year 12 Program in 2006, she already knew she loved science and mathematics. What she didn't know yet was whether she belonged.
Today, based in Canberra, Sauda is an Assistant Director and Delivery Assurance Lead, working across enterprise governance, assurance and capital program delivery. Her role focuses on strengthening decision-making, managing risk and supporting major delivery programs, but the confidence to pursue opportunities like these wasn't always there.
As a teenager, she described herself as naturally curious, analytical and drawn to solving complex problems, even if she wasn't always confident in her own abilities.
"I loved problem-solving, understanding how things worked, and exploring ideas connected to technology, science, and the future," she said.
It was a physics teacher who first introduced Sauda to NYSF and encouraged her to apply. At the time, she was shy and doubted she would be selected, but her teacher believed the application process itself would be a valuable learning experience.
That encouragement proved to be the push she needed.
Receiving financial assistance also helped make attending the program possible, giving Sauda access to an experience that would ultimately reshape the way she viewed both STEM and herself.
One of the biggest surprises was discovering that not everyone at NYSF had everything figured out.
"I think a lot of prospective students assume NYSF is only for people who already feel exceptionally confident or certain about pursuing a STEM career," she said.
Instead, she found herself surrounded by students who were equally curious, asking questions and exploring where they might fit. Visiting laboratories, meeting scientists and engineers, and seeing STEM in action transformed science from something she studied at school into a career she could genuinely imagine pursuing.
One memory has stayed with her ever since: seeing advanced scientific equipment and technology up close for the first time. Watching researchers tackle real-world problems showed her how interconnected different STEM disciplines could be and expanded her understanding of what a future in STEM might look like.
“Until then, science had mostly existed for me in textbooks and classrooms, so seeing real researchers actively working on complex problems made everything feel tangible and real.”
"It (NYSF) shifted my understanding of science from being just a school subject to something that could genuinely shape a career and future,” she said.
Looking back, Sauda credits NYSF with changing far more than her career aspirations. It gave her the confidence to keep putting herself forward, both academically and professionally, and helped her realise she belonged in spaces she had once questioned.
"It gave me the confidence to keep backing myself academically and professionally," she said.
Being selected for NYSF became a significant part of her university applications and contributed to her receiving early entry into her preferred degree. More importantly, it marked a turning point in her mindset, encouraging her to pursue opportunities she previously would have ruled herself out of.
For students wondering whether they're the right fit, Sauda's advice comes from experience.
"Apply anyway!" she said.
“I almost talked myself out of applying because I didn’t think I was “the type” of student who would get selected, and I know now that a lot of other students felt the same way.”
She believes the application process itself builds confidence, communication skills and self-belief, regardless of the outcome, and that stepping outside your comfort zone can be just as valuable as the program itself.