30 May 2020 by Violet
Orientation week firstly allowed me to get to know clubs and activities available at Uni and I was able to join a couple clubs I am interested in, while getting to make new friends. There was a really fun event I attended during O week called “Speed Friending” where hundreds of students talk to one person for a few minutes, then had to move along. I met so many great people from different degrees and people studying the same degree as me from that event. I still keep in touch with a couple of friends I met there. I would advise attending as much O week events as possible.
I live at a student accommodation near UM called Unilodge on Villiers. It’s just around 10 minutes’ walk from uni so I normally just walk to classes which is very convenient. It is also only 2 tram stops to the city so I often go grocery shopping at Woolworths CBD or I take a 15 minute bus ride into Lygon Woolworths. Lygon is one of my favourite suburbs as it is a short distance from uni and I sometimes walk there during class breaks because my favourite bookstore ‘Readings’ is located there.
If I am not exploring Lygon or having a coffee with a friend on campus, I usually head to Baillieu library during class breaks. It helps me stay focused to be studying in a library environment and I usually print all the materials there. When I want a study break, I normally get a coffee and banana bread from Professor’s Walk just underneath the library or I get a delicious crépe from Carte just a short walk from the library.
I normally get around the city with tram or just by walking. My most visited place is Melbourne Central and that’s a usual hangout spot for my friends and I. We would sometimes sit on the grass lawn in front of State Library and listen to musicians who usually perform there. I also love going by walks by the Yarra River especially at night because the views are stunning. I visit the National Gallery of Victoria often as well and they put up amazing exhibitions there if you are interested in art.
The thing I love most about moving to Melbourne is the impendence of managing my days. I also love multiculturality of Melbourne and you get to meet people from a diverse range of backgrounds. The city is also so lively and of course, discovering new coffee and brunch spots has become one of my favourite things.
Starting at University of Melbourne has been a relatively easy transition as student support services are always willing to help. I visited Stop 1 a couple times in the beginning of uni to discuss about my course or if I had any enquiries. The biggest challenge might have been that I found it hard to participate by voicing my opinion in tutorials in the beginning. But with the encouragement of tutors and as I tried my best to participate, as the semester progressed, I found myself being comfortable to express my voice on discussions. The important thing is to just remember that there is no wrong answer and that the tutors are there to help, and everyone’s just trying their best to navigate and collaborate in classes. Another issue I had was concerning with time management. I tended to do assignments last minute at first but then I realised that just imposes unnecessary extra stress. I started to really focus on effectively planning things I have to get done and sticking to the timelines. Don’t worry, it takes practise but once you get there, it will save a lot of stress.
I just want to emphasise the advice that I understand starting at Uni might feel daunting, but it is a very exciting and enriching experience. Don’t hesitate to ask for help from tutors, student unions or university services such as Stop 1 as resources are there for you to utilise. I really recommend participating in Uni events or joining clubs for meeting new friends. For example, I became a committee member of UMSA (Unimelb Myanmar Student Association) and it has been one of the best experiences while also allowing me to stay connected to fellow Burmese students.
Comments