Welcome to the official CQUniversity Student Blog – CQUniLife. This blog follows the experiences of a diverse group of CQUniversity students from different countries, studying various programs and at various campuses throughout Australia.
Coming to a new country to pursue my Master of Engineering was a challenging and emotional decision. I had to leave my parents and near-and-dear ones and come to a completely new place, but when I landed on 28th February 2019 at the Rockhampton airport, the love and care I received was so comforting. It still brings a happy tear to my eye.
Capricornia College (the CQUniversity Rockhampton student residence) welcomed me upon arrival. I immediately became a member of the ‘family’ and Cap College quickly became my home.
After a long term of academic readings, essays and exams, for many of us the time to relax and chill is here. Summer holidays in Australia come with heaps of opportunities to enjoy time with our mates, discover new places and embark on new adventures.
I’m studying in Melbourne, so here are my tips for making the most of summer holidays in this beautiful region…
As international students deciding to come to Australia, our decision to study here is often made based on the pursuit of our career aspirations. When we arrive, we need to develop our language skills, and understand the environment and cultural trends to get a job and gather enough financial resources to afford our daily and study-related expenses. How can we achieve our career aspirations while we are doing all this? By identifying our personal strengths and weaknesses, defining our life goals and career purpose, targeting the roles we want to perform, identifying the skills we need to develop, volunteering and leadership involvement. These are all great strategies to help us work towards our desired careers.
Do you ever wonder how on earth you’re supposed to find employment in your future field when the job market is insanely competitive? I often stress endlessly over all of the qualities and skills I am yet to develop. Is my resume good enough? Do I have enough experience? Will I embarrass myself in the interview? These questions can set you up to fail before you’re even qualified enough to apply for the job!
In an effort to ease these daunting thoughts, I’m always on the hunt for opportunities that can put me one step ahead of the rest. Conferences, forums, leadership positions and programs, the list goes on and on. The upcoming 3-day Student Leadership Conference at Rockhampton North campus is another incredible opportunity to develop employability and skills.
As a Study Sunshine Coast Student Ambassador and a CQUniversity Student Representative Council Member, I was invited to attend the 2019 International Student Leaders Forum and 2019 International Student Leaders Meet Parliament Event in August.
During these events, I had the incredible opportunity to meet a
variety of like-minded students, develop networks with parliamentary members,
and gain extensive knowledge on global talent, global skills, and global
workforce.
Studying in Australia comes with amazing opportunities and experiences, but I’ve found that international students like myself often have to deal with a number of factors that could overwhelm us. Controlling our expenses like renting, groceries shopping, mobile plan, public transport and of course leisure activities, managing our agenda, keeping a high academic performance and trying to not let stress block the road to our dreams.
Facing all of these challenges can be difficult but it is also a fantastic opportunity to develop our own personal management skills. Studying in Australia, which presents a huge multicultural group of students, has allowed me to learn some strategies from different friends, teachers and support staff. Here is what I’ve learned so far…
Application status Student (subclass 500): Granted. Congratulations! This must be one of the happiest emails that I have received from the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs. Welcome to the land down under where I would be studying a Master of Professional Accounting at CQUniversity. Exciting, isn’t it?
I would come to face a new environment, live independently, meet new people from diverse cultures, advance my career through study and a lot more. But, what does it really feel like when you leave home to experience all these things that await you?
Mesmerised is the word that describes my reaction when I first arrived at CQUniversity Rockhampton — the main campus of the University.
I went there to take part in the Chancellor’s Cup, an annual sports tournament. Teams from different campuses competed in sports like cricket, touch football and basketball. Continue reading A week at CQUniversity Rockhampton
Have you heard about Fraser Island? It is the World Heritage Listed Island near Hervey Bay, Queensland. The island is known for its exceptional beauty with uninterrupted white sand beaches and over 100 freshwater lakes. When my friends and I did some research about the Island, we were impressed by its natural scenery and opportunity for adventure so we decided to make a trip!
In western countries, afternoon tea is really popular and the tradition is quite different from that in my home country of China. In China, people prefer doing business and chatting through meal. However, here in Australia most of people here go to a cafe to enjoy a cup of coffee or a dessert. I really enjoy this kind of lifestyle and have gradually become used to drinking coffee to refresh myself at the start of the day.
