Eva Johnston graduated with our Flinders Class of 2023 and is living in Canada and studying a Commerce degree while striving in her sport of rugby. Eva kindly accepted the invitation to return to campus and host a workshop with our students participating in the Flinders Elite Athlete Program (FEAP) to share her journey to secure an overseas college experience.
The workshop provided a candid and inspiring insight into her journey since Year 12 students and the opportunities beyond graduation. Eva sparked fresh excitement—perhaps even a little wanderlust—among those eager to carve their own unique paths after school.
We asked Eva to share her journey in this Q&A Beyond Flinders profile.
What does life look like for you now?
I’m currently a student-athlete at Queen’s University in Kingston, Canada, about to begin my second year of a Commerce degree. I also compete with our varsity women’s rugby team, which is one of the top programs in the country and currently ranked third in Canada. It definitely keeps me busy during the season, but I’m loving every moment of it.
What was your favourite Flinders moment?
It would have to be the first time we wore the striped jersey on the rugby field. That moment marked our shift from just an U18 team to the official Flinders First Team, something we had worked hard to earn. As someone who grew up wearing a Flinders jersey since I was young and watching Wednesday night rugby for years, it was incredibly special. Seeing a space finally made for the women’s game made me proud. I, along with others, had worked hard to create those opportunities, and that moment made it all feel worth it.
Do you have a particular role model from Flinders?
It’s hard to narrow it down to just one person. Throughout my time at Flinders, I was lucky to be surrounded by so many inspiring teachers and students who helped me in so many different ways. But if I had to choose, I’d say Dr Louise McCuaig had a particularly special impact on me. We first met at Year 9 camp, and from that point on, she became someone I truly looked up to and relied on for guidance. I shared my dream of studying overseas with her, and she quickly became just as committed to that goal as I was. From connecting me with the right people to writing reference after reference, and always being there to support and simply just believe in me, I honestly don’t think I’d be where I am today, or the person I’ve become, without her.
How easy was it to decide what to do in life?
I think I was pretty lucky, I realised early on that I had a real passion for sport and working with people. University was always part of the plan, so once I saw the opportunity to combine both sport and study overseas, it felt like the perfect fit. In that sense, the decision up to this point felt somewhat easy, but it still took a lot of hard work to make it happen. That said, the next step after university is far from figured out. I know it won’t be easy, but I’m grateful to have the time and space to try new things, explore different paths and discover what truly excites me.
Did your further study or career go exactly as you planned?
Not exactly. My goal was always to pursue a collegiate rugby career in the United States. But when one of my close friends did an exchange in Canada, it made me take a second look. The more I researched, the more I realised that Canada might actually be a better fit for me. The women’s rugby scene here is thriving, with one of the best university women’s rugby competitions in the world. Choosing Canada enabled me to study a highly regarded degree while playing at one of the best rugby schools in the nation. In the end, it was a no-brainer and a decision I’m really happy with.
What advice do you have for current students?
It’s completely okay not to know exactly what you want to do in life. You’re young (I’m young), and there’s so much time to figure it out. But that doesn’t mean you should sit back and wait for things to happen. Use this time to set small goals that give you direction and purpose. If uni isn’t for you, that’s totally fine, but ask yourself what you’re going to do instead. There are so many different paths outside of university, but you need to be proactive to find them. Try new things, take different jobs, travel, meet people and stay open-minded. Everything you do and try, whether you love it or not, will help you to learn more about yourself and what you want out of life.
