By India Bradshaw
ON MY FIRST WEEK OF UNI, I GOT LOST AT LEAST FOUR TIMES. The first time was my own fault. In a bid to look less ‘fresher’ and more ‘experienced University-goer’, I shoved my phone in my back pocket and followed the crowd – soon to realise the campus was actually a lot bigger than I thought. After at least 10 minutes of confident-looking but time-wasting strolling, I plonked myself down on a bench, defeated, and pulled out my phone to open the Lost on Campus App. Testing my navigation skills, I again put my phone away and set off for my destination.
Really all attempts at looking less fresh were futile. I’m a petite girl with braces and a face so youthful that, if I told you I was 13, you might just believe me and pass me off as a child genius. Earlier in the morning I had stood glaring at my wardrobe, trying to choose something ‘cool’ to wear… something that screamed I was an intellectual with a purpose and not a complete and utter noob. So, after half an hour of trying really hard to try and not look like I was trying too hard, I landed upon an outfit that I concluded ‘wouldn’t embarrass me too much’. Over the next few days my care factor for outfit would decrease quite rapidly, especially when having to wake up at 5:30am for an 8am lecture.
Standing travel sick and tired on the train, I began looking favourably back on the ‘good old days’ of high school.
Rolling out of bed at 8am, throwing on the same clothes I’d had on all week and hopping into Mum’s car with my packed lunch seemed extremely easy in comparison to this morning’s affairs. Already, without any assignments or pressures, Uni was beginning to feel slightly laborious. A little demon dressed as Ronald McDonald was sat on my shoulder, whispering that I could just quit, get a nice job in fast food and watch Netflix for the rest of my life. I dismissed his idea and instead trudged my way through Uni – coffee in one hand and phone in the other.
When I got into the lecture and heard about things I’m actually interested in, the pain of waking up before sunrise suddenly felt doable. Yeah, high school was comfortable, but in high school I didn’t get to choose my own path. The thought of compulsory sport and science made me feel not-so-nostalgic, and I began thanking my lucky stars that the only equation I’d have to do today was whether I’d have enough change for a library doughnut, with the most compulsory exercise being the walk back to the bus station.
I began to realise how great it felt to finish a lecture and actually want to do the readings for next week. And for the first time since I’d started I only felt one thing: excited.
Look, I know this state of euphoria may not last forever, and I will probably end up dreading pre-readings and extra work just as much as the next person, but right now I am happy. It’s dawned on me just how much I’ve learnt about myself in the past week. I’ve found my drive, I’ve impressed myself with my confidence and abilities, and I’ve been inspired. Yes, this week was really scary. Starting Uni has been one of the scariest and most confronting things I have ever done, but it is scary because it actually means something to me.
This week has been full of stresses (is an elevator pass a real thing? Will these people notice if I walk past lost for the fourth time?), and there will be a lot more and larger stresses to come, but it has took me until the end of it to see Uni for what it really is. It’s an amazing and exciting new opportunity that I can not miss just because I am worrying about my outfit or whether someone thinks I’m cool or not.
So what have I learnt from this week? Well, really, that I need to make the god damn most of it.
Student Assist is the welfare department of the curtin student guild. Simon, juliana, jo-ann, andrew, olivia and onki are there to support all students, postgrad and undergrad, with any personal, welfare or academic issues.
IN THIS ISSUE, THE STUDENT ASSIST TEAM HAVE PUT TOGETHER
A LIST OF THE TOP 5 “STUDENTS” WHO COME IN TO SEE THEM.
1. NEVER CHECKS THEIR OCC
This student misses important information sent via the Official Communication Channel. The sort of information they might miss out on is changes to their course progress such they have been placed on conditional or terminated status or missing important deadlines.
Often the reasons for not checking their OCC is that they are away or they didn’t know it existed and often once they find out they are on terminated status or something similar – they usually visit Student Assist on the last day of submitting their appeal.
To avoid this dilemma – check your OCC’s weekly and don’t be misled by the subject line- it’s worth reading the whole message.
2. ‘BORROWS’ OTHER PEOPLES WORK
This student or group of students usually are not familiar with the plagiarism policy or are often in their first year of Uni.
They often copy large passages of already published work and use it as their own – often in ignorance.
Make yourself familiar with academic integrity at Curtin – Check out this link http://academicintegrity.curtin.edu.au/
3. CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT MY PHONE (EVEN DURING EXAMS)
This student often is caught with their mobile phone during an exam – even if they only have it on them and aren’t using it.
Often this student gets caught and thinks that the situation ends there but really that is only the first step to being accused of ‘general misconduct’.
Before doing your exam just read up on exam protocols and once in there, follow the invigilators instructions.
4. AM I IN THE RIGHT COURSE?
This student has been at Uni for a
year or so and isn’t really sure if the course is suitable for them. Factors that influence this state of confusion are the time they have spent in their present course, family or cultural influences or financial issues.
Come see us for an informal chat about which direction to go – we would love to help.
5. I AM FRUSTRATED AND NOT SURE WHO TO COMPLAIN TO
This student has had a few issues with a particular lecturer or faculty and now they have had enough and want to make a complaint.
Come to see us for a one-to-one chat and we help you unpack the issues and identify what needs to be done.
IS THIS YOU?
If any of these students describe you or you have any other issues such as resume assistance, assessment appeals, course progress etc you would like to talk to us about – please contact Student Assist.
DROP IN AND SEE US IN BLD 106F, OR CALL
08 9266 2900 TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT.