Katelyn Czubara
ANU gave me the chance to do things I never imagined. If I hadn’t come here, I probably would’ve stayed in my hometown, never driven a race car, never lived overseas.
Katelyn Czubara is a final-year student at the Australian National University, where she is completing a Bachelor of Languages and a Bachelor of Arts. Originally from the small town of Narooma NSW, Katelyn moved to Canberra in 2021 to pursue her passion for languages and to seek new opportunities.
Majoring in German Language and Culture and International Communication, she has also studied Italian, French, Indonesian, and Ancient Greek. Drawn to ANU for its wide range of language courses, she developed a deep interest in pragmatics, cross-cultural communication, and translation. Now in her final year, she has been accepted into the Australian National Internship Program (ANIP), an opportunity that allows students to integrate a practical workplace experience into their degree.
One of the defining moments of Katelyn’s university journey was her exchange to the University of Freiburg in Germany – a dream she had held since childhood. From sledding in the Swiss Alps to late-night conversations with friends, the experience was transformative both personally and academically. In 2023, her achievements were recognised with the Ethel Tory Scholarship from ANU and the Baden-Württemberg Scholarship from the University of Freiburg.
Katelyn also continued her love for studying overseas by completing a short language course in Indonesia, where she got to immerse herself in a small local community and improve her Indonesian.
Outside the classroom, Katelyn took on the role of Business Lead for ANU Formula Sport, the university’s student-run Formula Racing Team. In a milestone moment, she also became the team’s first-ever female driver.
“ANU gave me the chance to do things I never imagined. If I hadn’t come here, I probably would’ve stayed in my hometown, never driven a race car, never lived overseas,” she says. “But with determination and the support of scholarships, it became possible.”
Her advice for both current and future students is: “Your degree doesn’t define you – explore other interests. The knowledge that you learn from your studies are important, but the experiences you gain outside the classroom are just as valuable.”
