Rachelle+Dawson

  **Full name:** Rachelle Dawson **Gender:** Female **Born:** 12/08/1992 **Nationality:** Australian **Hometown:** Canberra, Australia **School:** UC SSC Lake Ginninderra

Okay, so I'll start with one of the main things that people often get confused with: despite being named Rachelle, I've been called Shelly almost since birth (thanks to Dad!). I've often heard people I've only recently met discussing quietly amongst themselves whether I'm supposed to be called Shelly, Rachelle or Rachael, which always makes me laugh!

Before joining Learning School I finished my first year of university at the Australian National University studying psychology and sociology. I'm not completely sure which specific field of psychology or sociology I want to go in, but I still have 2 years before I can either leave university or push on and specialise in something. Right now I'm just enjoying doing a broad range of subjects that fall under these disciplines. In order to travel, I had to defer a semester of uni and I will continue into my second year in late July 2012.

I love to get outdoors, especially into the Australian bush where I often go for walks, runs, camping and four-wheel driving. My dad and step mother are folk musicians, so much of my childhood involved traveling on a few weekends and school holidays in the year to camp at various folk festivals around east Australia.

I think the reasons for joining Learning School are fairly obvious - it is simply such a great opportunity and a great way to go about traveling. Other than the obvious, I joined Learning School because I think the skills I will develop will benefit me in the future, and I do hope to learn more about myself and the world.

Catchya later!