Say Yes to Everything: How Saxon Made the Most of Bond, from Leadership Roles to the UN in New York

Somewhere between the palm trees and the bright Gold Coast sun, a Bond University graduate drops a line of advice that sounds almost too simple to be real.

Say yes to everything.

Not in a hustle-culture way. More in a deeply human way. The kind of yes that feels awkward. The kind of yes that makes your stomach flip. The kind of yes that stops you from hiding in your room and instead pulls you into conversations, leadership roles, and opportunities you did not even know existed.

In this episode, Rob Malicki sits down with Saxon from Bond University, who has just finished a double degree in Law and International Relations, and is now completing his Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice. What unfolds is a rapid-fire tour through what “making the most of uni” can actually look like when you lean into it, even when it’s scary.

Saxon takes us across the globe through the international experiences that shaped his time at Bond. Geneva in first year, where he found himself in the diplomatic hub of the world meeting humanitarian representatives and learning quickly how global systems really work. Japan, where he represented China in a Model UN setting and got a taste of how challenging it is to argue perspectives that are not your own. India, where a winter school in law and society turned into an immersive cultural experience, new friendships, and a very important Taj Mahal photo.

Then comes the moment that feels like it belongs in a movie.

Saxon applies to speak at the UN General Assembly podium, not expecting much, and gets selected. Suddenly, a dream he had been carrying since Year 11 becomes real. The nerves hit hard, until the night before, when he stands in Times Square with snow falling, the world rushing past, and practises the speech anyway. The next day, he steps up and does it for real.

But the story is not just about international travel and big stages.

It’s also about what Saxon says surprised him most about studying at Bond: access. Not just to resources, but to people. Doors opening. Conversations with senior leaders. A knock on a door in a student residence that turns into a connection with Bond’s Chief Integrity Officer, and before long, Saxon has a seat at the table contributing to policy review work. It’s a reminder that sometimes the biggest opportunities are not advertised. They happen because you put your hand up, introduce yourself, and follow the thread.

Rob and Saxon pull the lesson back to something every student can use, no matter the university: uni will present opportunities, but it’s on you to take them. Leadership roles. Internships. Overseas programs. Conferences. Conversations after class. The students who go far are often not the loudest or the most confident. They’re the ones who keep saying yes, one brave decision at a time.

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