Steph’s Story: “Why ICMS is Truly Something Special”

At the 2019 Parent’s Information Evening, guests heard from academic and admission staff who shared information on best to navigate the complex university admissions system and what makes ICMS more personal and career-focused than what students would experience if they enrolled at a university.

But the highlight of the evening was a speech from current 1st year student, Stephanie Macourt. Steph shared her experience of starting at ICMS. She is, by her own admission, a girl who flew under the radar at school – but this is not the case at ICMS. She’s thrived and made it onto the Dean’s List in her first Trimester. Her dad, Peter, explained how he marvels at the fact that she now bounces out of bed to head off to ICMS in the morning, has made so many lovely new friends from all over the world, and has developed a confidence and maturity that has made him so proud.

This is word-for-word what Steph told the audience that night….

“Good evening everyone and thank you for attending tonight. I’m Steph, and I am a current student at ICMS. I am studying a Bachelor of Property (Development, Investment and Valuation), wrapping up my first year in “the castle” at the moment.

As a 20-year-old, one of the most frequently asked questions I get from people, which is largely friends of my parents, and parents of my friends, is “what are you doing with yourself now Steph?”. They generally follow up with “And are you enjoying yourself?” to which I respond with, every single time, that … “I am having a ball“. This seems to surprise many – a tertiary student who loves her degree! And loves the institution even more! This seems to be a bit of a rarity within my generation.

But I am not a unicorn. Walk around the halls of ICMS during regular study hours, and you’ll find students everywhere, giving you a response similar to mine.

There’s valid reason for this: ICMS is truly something special.

During my final year at school I was studying Hospitality for the HSC and really loving it. I was seriously considering a Bachelor of Hospitality for my next step, which is how I initially came across ICMS, bundled up at my school’s careers expo with other institutions that offered hospitality. The friendly faces on the stand, coupled with ICMS’s prime location, were the initial draw cards for me. After growing up doing Nippers at Manly Beach, I was itching to be back down near the ocean. My interest in Hospitality didn’t last long though, and like many other 18 year olds, I truly had no idea what I wanted to do.

Despite this, ICMS stuck, and rather than looking at courses I was interested in and then which institutions offered them, I started doing it the other way around.

I had very little interest in sitting in massive lecture halls, and was terrified of getting lost within a massive institution. The more I learnt about ICMS – from the industry training, to the fact I only had to study for 2-3 days a week for just over 2.5 years, and the fact that I got to be by the beach every day – the more I was set that this is where I would come. I eventually landed on studying a Bachelor of Property and have never looked back.

ICMS has continued to exceed my expectations, and the longer I spend here, the more I realise that it has to offer.

During my first year at ICMS I have been involved in the college basketball team, a part of the student ambassador program and have both acted as a mentor within, and utilised, the Peer Assisted Learning program. This is from a girl who flew very under the radar at school, and rarely put herself out there. I truly have thrived within the community-based approach to learning. I adore attending classes and regularly having conversations with both friends and lecturers about various ideas and concepts and having built relationships where I am comfortable asking for help when I need it.

Reflecting on this last year, I’m almost certain that my story would have been completely different, had I attended a university.

As I took a gap year after school, my younger sister and I ended up beginning our tertiary studies at the same time, at the beginning of 2019. The contrast between the experience I had, and the one that she had when she attended a university, was pretty stark. Despite my sister’s outgoing and bubbly nature, she struggled to make friends due to the swarms of people, battled constantly with enrolments and felt rather alone, in a very big place. On the other hand, have had friendly faces surrounding me for my entire journey, and quickly made life-long friends from across the globe.

I hope to enter into commercial property development one day, and am absolutely loving all of my studies so far. I feel the range covered by the ICMS syllabus has been great preparation, but the industry training, and work integrated learning will be what eventually sets me apart from other graduates.

Attending ICMS has been one of the best decision’s I’ve made.

I promise I’m not just saying that because I am stood before you tonight!”

If you have any questions, or would simply like to chat to an ICMS staff member, feel free to give us a ring on (02) 9466 1240.