Sri Sadhana - India, 20 June, 2023
I chose to come to Australia as it has one of the best education systems in the world with top-ranked universities. I was excited to study at QUT because QUT is the home of one of the best design schools in Australia and has the course I wanted to study, Bachelor of Design (Visual Design) (now called visual communication). My experience in QUT’s creative industries faculty hasn’t disappointed, I love it.
Studying at QUT
The units I get to study at QUT keep me excited as they are informative and teach you great skills. The support I receive from the tutors as well as the ease of interaction and feedback that I receive is the best thing about my classes. Additionally, joining different clubs at university has given me some insight into real-world experiences and developing some cool projects. Along with these experiences, some of my closest friends are from the clubs I am a part of. I volunteer as an executive member of the Indian Society of QUT (CSIQ), and I am also a part of the College of Excellence and QUT Impact Club. In QUT Impact, I get to be a part of an entrepreneurial problem-solving group. Currently, we are preparing for the ENACTUS competition, which is a worldwide competition where students provide solutions to real-life problems. I enjoy spending my time in this club, as I feel like I am doing something good for society, which makes me feel motivated. I like thinking creatively, and this club lets me practise that. There are many clubs to choose from and if you don’t find something you like you can start your own by contacting the QUT Student Guild.
Practical experience
I have an internship unit in my final semester which I’m very excited to do. Apart from it, I have been a part of industry projects for my impact lab units which is a core unit for all design and architecture bachelor students. In this unit, we get to work with an industry partner who gives us a brief about a problem they are facing and wants us to come up with a feasible solution. We get to work in teams and use each other's skill sets for the best outcome. We have had the wonderful opportunity to work with some notable companies such as Beyond blue, Headspace, ARUP, Talk Revolution and many more. This experience gave an insight into how the entire design process would work in the real-world industry which is exciting.
Living in Brisbane
The best thing about living in Brisbane has to be the diverse, vibrant and multicultural community that I get to interact with every day. I like the chill, laid-back nature of the city and how connected it is to nature. The food culture of Brisbane is amazing and there are so many different cuisines I have been able to try since I moved here. It has been an astonishing experience, especially with the different night markets that keep coming up every few weeks.
A few of my favourite and regular spots to visit in Brisbane are South Bank Parklands at night for the city view or Brisbane City Botanic Gardens in the afternoon for some chill time before classes. Eat Street Market Northshore is also great for the ferry ride, entertainment and delicious food or Fortitude Valley and West End for pubs and clubs. During the long breaks and weekends, Gold Coast and Noosa are a few places that are worth visiting for some fun times and to make new memories.
I am a very relaxed person by nature, so I enjoy meeting up with friends that I haven’t been able to catch up with in a while. I like taking a walk, getting some gelato or some drinks and visiting various places such as the museums, and parks or even going for a swim in the pool.
Finding accommodation
I organised accommodation before I got to Brisbane to make sure I had a safe place to stay once I arrive. I chose to stay in a student accommodation much like my other peers as it was the easiest, safest and closest to my campus which made it very accessible. QUT has an Accommodation Service which is very good, but I was able to find accommodation on my own.
Getting around
I use public transport as I don’t own a vehicle. Most of the time it is easy, cheap, and accessible to get around to different locations.
I love travelling but being a full-time student, I haven’t been able to do as much as I would like. I did do a quick 24hr visit to Sydney which was very interesting and exciting. It was great to soak in the city lifestyle without any restraints and plans. I usually get overwhelmed with planning different activities when I visit a new place with my friends. I have also been to Gold Coast, Noosa, Logan, and North Lakes. When I have time, I love to discover the Sunshine Coast, Stradbroke Island, Townsville, or Cairns.
What happens next
My current plan is to enjoy and soak in my university life as much as I can as I would be graduating at the end of this year. I don’t plan on studying further so I would like to find a job in a design firm ideally after I graduate. Right now, my goal is to take up all the opportunities I can get when I’m still a student as the opportunities are endless, I believe a student life is one of the best and most fun times in a person's life.
My advice
My biggest advice is to live a life that when you look back, your future self would look at it with a smile and happiness. Taking on a big change and making a move might seem hard and impossible at first or the time may never seem right, but working towards your goals and finally when you reach the feeling of achievement once you have made it, feels rewarding. Those doubts and questions you had, in the beginning, will seem so little to you later on and you would thank your past self for taking on the challenge.
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