My name is Alex Yu and I graduated from Brighton Secondary College (BSC) in 2012. I continued my studies at the University of Melbourne, completing a Bachelor of Commerce with double majors in Economics and Finance, as well as a Diploma in Languages: Japanese (Dean’s special approval Super Advanced Stream). I also studied one year at Kyoto University in Japan as an international exchange student during my university years. Once I graduated from BSC, I volunteered and worked at BSC as an assistant Japanese teacher (when I was in Melbourne), for a period of six years. I travelled around the world throughout the years and visited hundreds of cities in 27 countries. Travel and photography are passions of mine, as well as learning various languages and immersing myself in different cultures.

I then interned at the Australian Embassy in Tokyo as part of the Public Diplomacy section in 2018. I assisted with managing the Embassy’s social media and helped with various official events promoting and enhancing Australia and Japan’s bilateral relationship. I currently work at the Australian Embassy in Tokyo as a Consular Officer. I assist Australians who run into trouble in Japan, as well as legalising documents and issuing passports. I look after all Australians in need, ranging from those who become hospitalised from a ski accident to those who find themselves arrested, or even those who are starting a new family in Japan. I facilitated the first successful international prisoner transfer in 10 years from Japan to Australia and regularly liaise with various Japanese and Australian government departments to support Australians in Japan as best as possible.

I was a core member of the crisis response team that managed the Diamond Princess cruise ship coronavirus crisis in Yokohama Japan earlier this year, assisting with the hospitalisation and repatriation of the distressed Australians. I continue to support and assist Australians in Japan during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. I cannot wait until it is safe to travel again and look forward to exploring more parts of the world.

Article taken from college newsletter – Highlights (edition 2 2018)

Robert Eierweis, graduate of the Brighton Secondary College class of 2000, shares some insight into the real estate industry and reflects on his journey toward opening his own real estate business in his hometown of Brighton.

Working in Real Estate is ever changing, no day of the week is the same, this is why the industry is such an exciting opportunity. It is nearly impossible to outline what a “normal” day looks like in this whirlwind business. However, if you were going to try, each morning starts off with a short meeting with the team to outline the plan for the day and any important sales or auction results from the previous days. From there, the team splits and the day can be filled with anything from introducing yourself to the local community, conducting market appraisals, attending Open for Inspections and calling potential and past clients.

I had no idea that I would end up being in Real Estate, the whole way through school I had planned on being a car mechanic. Then, one thing led to another and an industry veteran took me under his wing and showed me the Real Estate ropes. The main skill that I think got me through the classroom and into a successful real estate career, would have to be, COMMUNICATION. This is a key tool in most jobs you will hold in your life – but in Real Estate this skill is essential. Within a Real Estate position, you are constantly communicating with different people, whether it be clients or colleagues and sometimes people holding high positions within the community.

One of the most rewarding parts of my job is assisting people in the process of purchasing a property, there is nothing more satisfying than seeing the faces of a person or family who has just purchased their dream home. With that, comes the equally satisfying reaction of achieving an unbelievable price for your vendors. I would not hesitate to encourage someone to make the move into real estate – the
diversity in the day, the variation of people you work with and the endless rewards are an opportunity not to be missed by anyone who has the motivation to work hard!

ROBERT IS VERY KEEN TO SHARE HIS TIME AND TALENTS WITH OUR COLLEGE COMMUNITY, SO LOOK OUT FOR HIM AROUND THE COLLEGE IN THE FUTURE!