How I got the most out of my UNSW degree

I got more out of studying at UNSW than I ever could’ve hoped for.

It’s hard to recall what my expectations of UNSW were in year 12. Thirteen years of schooling had suddenly felt like it flew by, and I was leaving the high school bubble for a university with fifty times the amount of people. I wanted to make friends, try new things, and hopefully come out of it all with a job! Now, as I near the end of my six-year-long double degree, I can safely say that I got more out of studying at UNSW than I ever could’ve hoped for.

Tell me you’ve finished the HSC, without actually telling me you’ve finished the HSC.

What drew me to UNSW was its reputation as a globally-focused university with a vibrant and inclusive social life. I embarked on my student journey in a Music/Advanced Science degree, knowing that I wanted to make the most of my time. You would be right to describe first-year Alice as a “keen bean”, but this didn’t come without a good dose of self-doubt. I had joined the campus wind band straight away and signed up for a music course to study Indonesian Gamelan in Bali. Through activities like these, I met some incredibly inspiring and talented students.

Left: Shenanigans on Bali Music Field Trip (Winter 2016). Right: Playing glockenspiel at my first UNSW Wind Symphony Concert.

I remember looking up to my older peers and thinking I could never do what they could. However, with some encouragement from UNSW students and staff, I took on roles that helped me develop my skills and confidence. For example, I took advantage of UNSW Music Ensembles (open to all students) and International Exchange to build my versatility as a performer. Even though performing was not my major, it was an important creative outlet for me and helped me feel connected to the UNSW community. I even had the pleasure to perform a (solo) concerto with the UNSW Orchestra – what a highlight!

Left: Playing a Concerto on Vibraphone with the UNSW Orchestra, 2019. Right: Playing with Samba Vencedores on exchange at the University of Michigan, 2018.

Volunteering at UNSW has also been an extremely rewarding experience for me. Whether it was being a Faculty Peer Mentor or Thoughtful foods shop volunteer, it was a way to explore my passions and contribute to student life at UNSW. I discovered a love for helping young people through UNSW Arc Volunteering programs and went on to work as Student Coordinator of Phil’ (Philanthropy). These roles helped build a suite of transferrable skills and made me realise the power of being a student. Because of this, I applied and was awarded a New Colombo Plan Scholarship to study, intern and undergo language training in Singapore.

Left: At Parliament House for New Colombo Plan Award Ceremony. Right: Running a Phil' 24-hour Fun-a-thon activity in 2019.

In Year 12, I didn’t expect to have all of these out-of-the-classroom experiences but they make me who I am today. I actively sought out things that would challenge me and, in those imposter-syndrome moments, I tried to remember that I was there to learn and grow. Two international exchanges and a few degree alterations later, I’m still throwing my hat in the ring for new opportunities at UNSW. If I could give my 17-year-old self some advice, it would be: You don’t have to have it all figured out - university is the perfect time to explore and find your own journey to success!