Adrian Hoac

Business

For Adrian, graduating from university is about much more than earning a degree. It represents the fruition of a dream that began long before he arrived at Monash.

Adrian's parents came to Australia from Vietnam as refugees. Neither had the opportunity to finish high school, but both believed deeply in the power of education. "They thought that education opens up lots of opportunities and it's a good chance to change your destiny," Adrian says.

Like many families who have built a new life in Australia, Adrian's parents worked hard and lived carefully, determined to create opportunities for their children that had not been available to them. Adrian was always aware of the sacrifices his parents had made. Seeing their determination inspired him to work hard at school and make the most of the opportunities in front of him.

His parents impressed upon him the idea that now that he was in Australia and had a lot of opportunities available to him, that he should make use of them.

Even with this encouragement, university initially felt like a distant goal. As the first person in his family to attend university, Adrian did not have family members who could guide him through applications, course choices or what university life might look like.

"I was a bit alone being the first in my family to go to university," he says. “For a lot of people, maybe their parents have been to university or sometimes even their grandparents. And so they have some sort of support network because maybe their uncles or aunties come from the same sort of background, and they can really help them through the journey.”

With hard work and determination, however, Adrian was able to break the mould and become the first in his family to attend a university. Walking around Clayton campus for the first time remains one of Adrian's most memorable moments.

"I realised that this campus was so grand and a dream come true," he says.

For Adrian's parents, seeing their son at Monash was a sign that the opportunities they had hoped for when they arrived in Australia had become reality.

From my parents' side, it's a story of hope. ”

As Adrian progressed through his Business and Economics degree, he began thinking about life after university. Like many students who are the first in their family to attend university, he was unsure about the pathways available and what steps would help him build a career.

A conversation with an educator in one of his accounting classes changed that.

As Adrian explored his options, his lecturer took the time to talk through career pathways, explain how different professional qualifications could shape his future, and share insights drawn from industry connections and experience.

Adrian spoke about the impact this had on him, as being connected to real world opportunities beyond his degree is something he values deeply. For Adrian, the conversation provided something he had not previously had access to: informed guidance from someone who understood both higher education and the profession he hoped to enter, and could help him optimise his experiences in both.

The experience reinforced something he had always believed about education, that it opens doors to opportunities that once seemed out of reach.

Today, as he prepares to graduate, Adrian feels proud not only of what he has achieved, but of what his achievement represents for his family.

"You cannot change the past, only the future," he says. "I've been given the opportunity to do so, so it's important for me to try my best."

When Adrian crosses the graduation stage, it will mark the culmination of years of hard work, sacrifice and hope for him and his family.

"I think my parents will be satisfied that their son has finally graduated university," Adrian says. "Finally, all those sacrifices have paid off."