Old Boy Angus Scott-Young (2014), pictured, is a 2023 recipient of the Churchie Foundation ‘Overseas Study Scholarship for Old Boys’. He recently attended the University of Cambridge and has penned the following recollections of his experience.

In mid-2022 I moved to the UK to play professional rugby for the Northampton Saints. Having been a Brissy boy my whole life – used to the ever-present Queensland sunshine - I wasn’t prepared for the cold, dark descent into winter that the English experience in the final months of the year. I found myself indoors a lot more, sitting by the heaters, wondering why I had moved halfway across the world to freeze on the rugby field. I wanted to understand why I was yearning for purpose, so I started reading books like ‘Man’s search for meaning’ by Victor Frankl, and ‘Denial of Death’ by Ernest Becker. They introduced me to Philosophy – a subject I hadn’t truly explored when doing my undergraduate science and commerce degrees. It was stimulating, confronting, and made me question my beliefs. I was hooked – and what better place to explore this newfound interest than Cambridge University – it was an hour drive from Northampton, had housed some of the greatest minds in history, and was a stone’s throw away from Europe - the cultural breeding ground of Western philosophy.

I promptly applied for the Postgraduate Certificate in Philosophy, and my classes started in October 2023. The course was part-time and wasn’t matriculated, meaning I could juggle my rugby career without needing to stay full-time in a Uni college. I attended various weekend intensives at Madingley Hall – a beautiful mansion built in the 16th century on its own private estate. Across the year, I learned about ancient philosophy, modern philosophy, and existentialism. I wrote on topics as far ranging as happiness, fate, anxiety, genetic enhancement, truth, love and death. I had fancy formal dinners in halls adorned with hundreds of years of history. I met some incredible classmates – a young musician dubbed the ‘Kazakhstani Mozart’ who had just released a book called ‘Quantum Mechanics and Avant-Garde Music: Shadows of the Void’, a regal man releasing an androgynous clothing line who I’m pretty sure had some royal blood, and a few employees from Google who are fascinated by the intersection of philosophy and AI. I was truly blown away by the diverse cohort, and one of my favourite memories was sitting in the mansion’s gardens on a sunny day, discussing Kantian philosophy - which basically seemed like a foreign language at that point.

I am so grateful I had the chance to experience all these wonderful moments, and I owe a great deal to the ‘Churchie Foundation Overseas study scholarship for Old Boys’ for making it possible. Undertaking this study has enriched my life in many ways – I now have a qualification from one of the most prestigious universities in the world, I have formed friendships with unique and successful individuals from every corner of the globe, and I have gained knowledge in the philosophical realm that truly helps me day to day in handling the vagaries of life. I even continue to use philosophy as inspiration for my art - I draw weekly designs based on philosophical concepts and how they relate to challenges in my life. For these reasons I would urge any Old Boys interested in studying overseas to take the opportunity with two hands and apply for this scholarship. It has unequivocally changed my life for the better, and I’m sure it will do the same for you.

This year Churchie Foundation is again awarding the Overseas Study Scholarships for Old Boys. Applications are now invited from Old Boys and current Year 12 students wishing to attend colleges or universities in the UK or USA. The application process will close on Friday 31 May. To find out more information and/or apply for a scholarship, please click here.