Emily and Jess at their recent ECU graduation.
Graduations are some of life's biggest milestones, made all the sweeter when you can share them with friends and family, like these close friends!
ECU graduates Emily Williams and Jessica Hall's story of friendship goes way back.
Emily and Jess graduated from ECU together in February 2025, Emily from Biomedical Science and Jessica from Occupational Therapy.
Emily explains her university journey first saw her chose Biomedical Science because she was interested in becoming a doctor.
"Biomed seemed like the perfect pathway for medicine, especially if I ended up not wanting to be a doctor anymore, it would mean I could pursue a different health or medical pathway, which is what ended up happening," said Emily.
"I originally started at UWA but I ended up transferring to ECU after six months, as I wanted a more supportive student experience and was very impressed with their new science building."
When it came to deciding what to study, Jess knew she wanted to pursue a career in healthcare which helped individuals lead independent and fulfilling lives.
"Upon attending the ECU open day, I was drawn to the holistic approach of occupational therapy, where I could work closely with clients to understand their unique needs and goals," Jess said.
"The ability to offer practical interventions, such as improving mobility and everyday task skills, supporting cognitive abilities, helping adapt to new life circumstances, and enhancing overall well-being was highly motivating to me."
Emily and Jess shared just how long the young women had been friends, harkening back to when they graduated primary school together.
The pair met in 2011 when they both started year three at Lake Joondalup Baptist (LJBC) Primary School, a new school for both of them.
"Jess was one of my first friends I made when I started there and soon became my best friend for most of my primary school and high school years. We've now been close friends for 14 years," said Emily.
Jess and Emily at their primary school graduation.
Emily talked about the value of studying with such a close friend and how good it was to be able to support each other during their study at ECU.
"It was a scary change from high school and it made it a lot less intimidating to be able to meet up together on campus for lunch or just to catch up and chat," said Emily.
"We've also been able to depend on each other for little queries about units we've both studied, and exam time rules."
From year three to primary school graduation to recently graduating university, both Emily and Jess have celebrated their achievements together, surrounded by family and with the joy of a friendship that has stood the test of time.
