A humble beginning (Jessica)

Apologises in advance that I’m a week behind (ironic how this correlates to my university studies) but never the less, better late than never!

My name is Jessica and I’m studying a Bachelor of Arts, hopefully majoring in International Studies and Politics and Linguistics and Applied Linguistics! I’m referred to commonly as Jess but will also respond to Midget. I enjoy ice cream, reading and ironically enough I enjoy watching Ben10 (Ben, shout out to you)!

I’ve battled the enrolment process, survived the Student Portal timetabling and got through O-Week having signed no petitions – University life here I come! Having only been at University for two weeks, one of those weeks being Orientation week, I find it hard to write anything mind numbingly deep. However, I will touch on two things that have been significant for me these last two weeks which will both relate to two very important tips!

Commerce Camp – the place where dreams come true
Undoubtedly my best experience at University thus far. A weekend away consisting of countless shenanigans, life long friendships and short term relationships.  As a result of that camp, I have made a plethora of friends and have also turned my liver to steel (booyeah). I thank the Commerce Student Society for hosting and organising such a great camp and look forward to future events!

TIP: Join clubs, attend camps and get involved
Some of my best (week long) friendships have come from getting involved in the universities countless social opportunities. If you don’t get involved, you are all missing out on a great chance! University is so much more than studying and you won’t come to realise this sitting in the Library studying!

Classes – crap loads of information in one sitting
I have so far enjoyed most of my classes but my lingering flaws of laziness and inconsistency have once again failed me. Within the first week I’ve already changed in and out of three different classes! So like this blog post, I am already a week behind! Lectures involve a real sense of independence, in the way that it is up to you to listen and make notes. This compared to tutorials is very different, as tutorials (or tutes for short) are much more similar to the classroom type setting. Unfortunately for me I’ve come to realise, I am not a lecture person. I can’t sit still for that long and listen. So, unlike everyone else I have to try extra hard to absorb all the information.

TIP: Don’t be me
Make the right decisions about your classes and stick to them! To future students:  attend all the subject information sessions before your subject selection to save the time of ending up a week behind by week two! If you are in the unfortunate situation of being like me and find that lectures are somewhat difficult to stay focused in don’t stress! Just make a conscious effort to pay attention and also research the Academic Skills Team. I will be attending one of their workshops entitled “Arts: Making more Tutorials” and they have plenty more like them! So don’t be lazy and get proactive!

As Dumbledore once said,
“You will find that help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it”
(if by Hogwarts we mean Melbourne then yeah, since they kind of look the same)

Alas fine readers that is all I have for now, hopefully you have enjoyed this post (and the pictures too!). First years, comment with any tips you have  to give and I shall write to you all again soon!

Jessica