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Wondering what it's like to be a university student at ���������¼�?

Meet sixth-year Bachelor of Music/Science* student��Alice Hu��as she reflects on her journey from high school to university and��all the unexpected experiences that were awaiting her at ���������¼�.

I got more out of studying at ���������¼� than I ever could’ve hoped for.

It’s hard to recall what my expectations of ���������¼� 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 ���������¼� than I ever could’ve hoped for.

What drew me to ���������¼� was its reputation as a globally-focused university with a vibrant and inclusive social life. I embarked on my student journey in a Music/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.

^{*The Bachelor of Music/Science is now offered as the refreshed Bachelor of Science/Fine Arts, where you can major in Music.��}

I remember looking up to my older peers and thinking I could never do what they could. However, with some encouragement from ���������¼� students and staff, I took on roles that helped me develop my skills and confidence. For example, I took advantage of�����������¼� Music Ensembles��(open to all students) and����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 ���������¼� community. I even had the pleasure to perform a (solo) concerto with the ���������¼� Orchestra – what a highlight!

Volunteering at ���������¼� has also been an extremely rewarding experience for me. Whether it was being a�����ǰ�����shop volunteer, it was a way to explore my passions and contribute to student life at ���������¼�. I discovered a love for helping young people through ���������¼�����programs and went on to work as Student Coordinator of����(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 to study, intern and undergo language training in Singapore.

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 ���������¼�. 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!