Cousins in Sydney: Independence Through Connection

Opening: A First Adventure, Together

For Melbourne cousins Stephanie and Eloise, Immerse Sydney became their first big shared adventure. Eloise had already dipped into summer school life in Boston; for Steph, this was the leap. What they discovered was that independence isn’t about doing everything alone – it’s about building confidence through the connections you make.

As Eloise put it, “I personally have done a summer school before… but I did one in the US at Boston University, and I really enjoyed it. I was telling Steph a lot about it, and so she was really inspired… she was like, oh my god, we should do one together when you’re back. That’d be so fun”.

Shared Experiences as Anchors

The programme gave them touchpoints that tied their experience together. “My favorite memory during the course was definitely when we went to Bondi Beach and we went surfing,” Eloise recalled. “Steph and I were in a really fun group, and we got to all surf together, which was super funny… the weather was perfect”.

For Steph, Luna Park stood out: “We had such a good time there. The rides were so fun. Every activity that we did throughout the course was honestly amazing”. These excursions – surfing, Luna Park, touring the Opera House and Harbour Bridge – weren’t just diversions. They became the backdrop for bonding, both with each other and with new friends.

In the Classroom

Both were used to small classes at home, so the intimate Sydney seminars felt natural. Steph explained, “A lot of my classes at my old school had five or six students. So I was very used to working in a small setting… in my business class there were four people, so it was quite small. We could learn one on one and get to know the teacher a lot better”.

Eloise agreed: “It was honestly really great to have special connections with the other students in our group. And a big shout out to Dan our professor. He was really good”. The classroom’s atmosphere matched the wider experience – deep learning intertwined with close connection.

Discovering Independence

Independence came in practical and personal forms. Eloise said, “It did make me more independent, having to do my washing, looking after myself, being in charge of all my actions and not having my parents to rely on… it was good in the sense of learning a lot of life skills and becoming more independent, preparing me for adulthood”.

For Steph, the lesson was confidence: “I was a bit nervous going in, worried how I was gonna manage myself without having my family around. But I think I just proved to myself throughout the journey… I can be independent and I can do things by myself”.

Family and Friendship

Sydney also became a chance to reconnect after years apart. “Eloise lived in New York for about six years,” Steph explained. “So our Sydney trip was the first time we’d come together after being separated for so long. We really got to know each other and made really good connections with ourselves, each other, and our friend group”.

At the same time, both valued the balance of relying on family while making space for new friendships. “We learned a lot about each other and our boundaries… being there for each other through something like this,” said Eloise. “But it also did make me more independent”.

Closing: Independence That Connects

Immerse Sydney left them with more than memories of beaches and city lights. It gave them a model of independence that thrives on connection – to family, to peers, to themselves. As Steph reflected, it proved she can be self-reliant; as Eloise noted, it revealed a new side of herself. Together, their story shows that independence doesn’t mean standing apart, but leaning into relationships that help you grow.