Hi all!
Semester's nearly over and an influx of exams and assignments are approaching. Need an effective study spot? I was reflecting on the 11 weeks I've experienced on campus and these are the locations I would recommend:
SYSTEM GARDEN
The tranquillity of nature will lull you into thinking that everything is okay, which is useful when you have 5 assignments due the same day. It's an isolated and generally uncrowded area and the scarcity of benches encourages you to become one with nature (i.e. sit on the grass). If peace and quiet is what you're looking for then System Garden is your match! Bonus points for it being the location where on 2 occasions I saw an absolutely adorable dog. I may have been distracted but it was totally worth it!
ROWDEN WHITE LIBRARY
If you're brave enough to ignore the Please Do Not Study signs, the Rowdy will become you're best friend to get you through 25-page readings. Being immersed in a library setting complements the task of reading essays, articles and books. Additionally, all the little nooks, crannies and coves that this library has to offer are perfect for independent studying. The only downside is that being so close to Bands, Bevs and BBQ, and having the library frequently play its own music, means that you will feel the thumping of the bass in your veins and be reminded of pop songs you really wanted to forget!
LABYRINTH - CHEMISTRY BUILDING, LEVEL ONE
This computer lab's vicinity to other buildings (e.g. Elisabeth Murdock and Physics South) make it my frequent spot for shorter periods of study in between classes. There are a number of desktop computers for you to download and complete readings, catch up on workshop feedback forms and touch up on assignments. Completely irrelevant, but the entrance gives you a view to the practical lab that lies opposite this room, and as an Arts student whose planning on never doing chemistry again, I take great pleasure in watching students frantically shove on lab coats as they're late to their workshops. So I guess bonus points for entertainment???
Hopefully this gives you an idea of where to frequent when you need to fight a losing battle against procrastination! - Tharidi :)
Hi people! Here comes your "super-late-first-year-blogger-who-even-missed-the-induction" :")
I know! I know! Not the best introduction yet first impression! But believe me, I got heaps of stories to tell, furthermore, in this hectic week of catching up with lecture captures you haven't watched and tutorials you left stacking up since forever!
First of all, I'm an International student studying commerce with Accounting & Finance as my majors. I first moved to Melbourne since July 2017, but that doesn't mean I'm completely blind about this beautiful city! My high school conducted an educational immersion on 2016 to visit RMIT, Monash Clayton University, and lastly University of Melbourne. Each university "boasted" about their qualities and tried to win us over.
As a result of that, here I am! I can proudly say that I'm a Unimelb Student now! Yeah!!!
Well, that's a brief history of how I got into Unimelb.
LOOK FORWARD TO MY STORIES, TIPS & TRICKS, AND EXPERIENCES!
Cheers,
Michaela <3
via GIPHY
You have 24 hours to find the reading for tomorrow's tute. You never bought the course reader. You said it was a waste of money.
Every other reading was online. This one would be too. You got cocky.
The reading's not online. You're screwed. Or, maybe not.
You search the reading on Discovery. You'll be fine. There's no way Discovery doesn't have it.
Discovery doesn't have it. Discovery's never seen that reading in its life.
Now you're screwed. It's not on LMS or in the library.
Give up? No. Knowing your luck, the tutor will ask you about the reading tomorrow.
There's only one thing that can save you now.
You search the entire book/journal in the library catalogue. Score! There's an online copy.
You download it. You read the required pages.
You're safe for another week.
Hey guys! Recently I've been in a bit of a slump trying to figure out what to write creatively about. With all the critical/analytical thinking I've had to do for assignments, getting the imaginative part of my brain to work has been a bit of a struggle. Admittedly, I don't have that much of an eventful life to inspire my writing, but after a lecture today I learnt that the mundane can be just what you need to get your creative juices flowing! With that in mind, I came up with some writing prompts to share with you!
- Notice someone off in their own world? Write about them.
- Pick 5 words from different store signs. Can you make a story out of them?
- Write about your name. Does it mean anything? Do you like it? Is there someone you loathe who has the same name?
- Pick the first/last word from someone else's story/poem. See if you can go on from there.
- Eavesdrop on a stranger's conversation. There's the start for your dialogue.
- Make a story about a meme (cuz why not???)
- What was the last thing you ate? Personify that food item.
- Write in the perspective of your pet.
- Are you a coffee addict? Write about the power coffee has over you.
- Someone around you is wearing headphones? Write about what they could be listening to. Maybe something you'd never expect?
- Wishing you weren't in a tute/lecture/at uni? Make a story about what you'd rather be doing. The more fantastical the better!
- Someone around you is speaking in a language you don't understand? Write about what you think they might be saying.
And finally, if nothing else works:
- Write about how you have nothing to write about.
Hope this helps!
Hey everyone! This is my first post for First_year@UniMelb so I thought I'd introduce myself! My name's Tharidi and I'm studying a Bachelor of Arts. I'm a domestic student hailing from Melbourne but I'm just as unfamiliar with the term "uni life" and what it entails as any other, so you can expect plenty of posts investigating what exactly I'm supposed to be getting up to when I'm not in class! There's a lot to experience at Melbourne Uni, which means there's a lot for me to discover and report back to you!
My subjects revolve around my interests which are: writing, reading and watching movies, so you'll probably find a lot of my posts detailing my advice/experience with: 20-page readings (why is this a thing???), writing 1000-word essays (the night before the due date? Hah! Of course not...) and just generally developing my skills (also known as: Making It Look Like You're Being Productive When You Don't Have Tests Or Exams).
I'll admit, having watched several American chick flicks and the like, my expectations of uni life have been thoroughly crushed. I haven't seen any throwing of a frisbee on South Lawn or met the classic frat guy/sorority girl. BUT! I figure some things are universal, like all the nerves and anticipation that come with meeting new people, joining clubs, and trying to figure out who you are. Hopefully my posts can give you a little idea on what it's really like to be a first year at Melbourne Uni. I don't know what's in store for me this year, but I'm excited to have you along for the ride!
LET THE BLOGGING COMMENCE!!!
Welcome! Everything is Fine!
Did ya get that? That sneaky little Good Place reference? No? Well that’s ok because there are plenty more where that came from.
HI. HELLO. HILO.
I’m Jess.
I'm a Bachelor of Music Student and probably one of the most awkward humans on the planet. It’s true.
I’ve got more awkward stories than parents have embarrassing stories of their children.
Im constantly tripping over non-existent objects, mixing the order of my words (e.g I’m teeling fired) and there may have been an instant where I accidentally shook someone’s arm instead of their hand because I misjudged the distance. That’s enough proof of that for now. Trust me when I say I’ll have a whole list to share with you by the end of the year!
SO, Bachelor of Music Student. We get bad rep. sometimes for being lazy, but we’re (surprisingly) not. We play hard and we practice hard. We’re also not all classical music nerds, and while that is definitely by no means a bad thing (I’m always impressed by people who know so much about classical music), I don’t really fit into that category. And a lot of other people probably don’t either. For all you know, there are some total rap gods in the Bachelor of Music degree that you didn’t know about. Crazy, right?
One thing y’all should know about me is that I live and breathe weird. Between my clumsiness and total ridiculousness as a human, I think Crocs can make an outfit, and that everything tastes better microwaved. It’s a truth to live by. Day-old pizza tastes MUCH better than fresh pizza is all I’m saying.
In all this weirdness, through my time as a first-year blogger I’ll be here to tell you about all my problems and mistakes I make so that you don’t have to make them!
I have a whole bunch of things to talk about that I wanted answered before I came to Uni, ranging from what beginning language classes is like (especially if you’ve never been good at them *stares pointedly at self*), the best food on campus, and what to do when you’ve got hours to kill before your next class.
I’ve got ya covered!
May we meet again! (⋆ʾ ꆚ ʿ⋆)۶⁾⁾⿻
Jess out ヽ( ˘з˘ )ゝ
No preparation could lead me to the big city life, especially not for a small-town girl. I was wedged in the middle, being neither an international student nor an Aussie one, but a Kiwi.
My arrival
“No expectations”, I said, “They inevitably lead to disappointment.”
Yet, subconsciously, I presumed the arrivals area of the Melbourne airport would be spacious and inviting like the Auckland one had been. Pulling my suitcase along the hard floor, I entered a vivacious yet cramped arrivals area. People sat on benches texting, waiting for their loved-ones, chauffeurs were pacing the perimeter, asking people whether they knew the person written on their plain pieces of placard, and the others, like me, waited in line to purchase one-way tickets to the city.
Alone in Melbourne
Upon arrival into Melbourne, the sight and sheer concentration of people present became abnormally ochlophobic. Imagine you’re standing in a room full of people, but you feel empty. A deep sinking feeling evades your stomach, and you feel truly alone. It’s almost like the feeling you have before you start breaking down and crying. In the first couple of weeks, these fleeting thoughts of isolation were frequent. It happened when I walked the voluminous streets of Melbourne, and when I sat home alone. These feelings stemmed from being on my own, not knowing anybody and hating what I was learning and where I was living. This inevitably lead me to hating everything, making me feel like an outlier in the big city.
Why should I feel alone when I’m alone? I shouldn’t. It was strange because I would describe myself as someone who’s introverted, and who enjoys alone time.
Timeout
Fast-track to after the mid-semester break, isolation – for the most part – is a non-issue. Easter break exponentially reduced my stress levels and spending time alone, once again, is enjoyable. An activity that really helped was visiting family friends; they helped remind me, unbeknownst to them, of what it felt like to belong and be part of a loving community. I’ve sort of adjusted to my course, but may transfer next semester, and Melbourne has gradually become more like home.
Tips and tricks
After seven weeks in Melbourne, these are my best tips and tricks that helped me combat those initial feelings of isolation:
- Acting friendly and talking to people. O-Week was the prime time to do so because that’s when everyone isn’t piled with work, and is still amiable for a chat. It can be as simple as asking someone if they’re lost or if they’re going to the same event as you.
- Going to the pit-stop consultations to motivate yourself to learn more and to make study buddies.
- Exploring the city, and making it familiar enough to call home.
- Joining clubs that suit your interests and chatting about things you like.
Go out there and do something you'll feel good about! Drowning in misery won’t help.
--
Even snow won’t stop flowers from blooming.
Thanks for listening :)
Grace xo
Hi everyone out there!
I'm EragusTrenzalore (that is an amalgamation of names in two of my favourite book/ TV show, guess which ones they are) and I am a first year Bachelor of Biomedicine student. It's a pleasure to have joined the FirstYear@Unimelb Team and write for you this year.
For those of you entwined in the intricacies of VCE or final year high school studies, I hate to break this to you, but it does not get easier in Biomed. Given that you are in a cohort of the top students in the country, you will need to work hard especially if your aim is Medicine (as is the case with most first year Biomed students). However, as you progress through the course, you will come to appreciate that there are many other pathways to careers in health that the Biomedicine degree offers.
After the first few weeks of that is the honeymoon period where you enjoy and appreciate what Uni life has to offer, from the plethora of clubs and societies catering to almost any niche (e.g. there is a Cheese Club), to the great variety of camps and social events welcoming first years, you will realise that this is the calm before the storm. The storm that comes after Week 5 comes in the form of assignments and tests (known as Mid-Semester Tests) that one must study and complete. Luckily, we as Biomed students huddle together in support of each other through these terrible times.....
Now that I have completely scared you off from choosing Biomed, when you could choose Science instead, I will just say that compared to your high school years, there will be much more work in Uni, but it is different in that you have much more time and are now responsible for managing your own studies. For some, it may be difficult moving from the structure environment of high school, where what you do is dictated by the bell, to the freedom of University life and balancing what you need to do with what you want to do (a common thread that will run into adult life as well). This certainly was an issue for me initially, as I had trouble balancing study and participation in clubs and societies; I would have to make study work around long rehearsals with the Biomedicine Symphony Orchestra, but in the end, you find what works. Use this opportunity in first year to find out the best ways you study and how to manage your time; there is plenty of support from the University regarding this, especially with Stop 1, so if you find you have any troubles at all, drop by and discuss it with Stop 1. This can also be expanded generally to any issue at University, if you have trouble with anything whether you are confused about something in lecture or need help with choosing what subjects you want to take, always ask! The support is always there at University and will help you only if you ask.
All in all, Biomedicine is a lot of fun if you're interested in health and do work hard. It is the perfect time to learn what you are interested in and participate in the countless opportunities available. Don't be afraid to try anything you're interested in as you never know where it may lead you.
Be good and Study Hard!
Let's just say my name is Momo. Not Japanese for "peach," momo 桃 // but an English nickname for a nickname "Elmo." Momo.
I'm a Fine, fine young lady--jks I'm a Bachelor of Fine Arts student.
Not to be confused with "Finance" spoken quickly with a British accent
Or "Fine Ants" spoken quickly with excessive nasal tones and twang
Or a Bachelor of Arts Student (please, stahp ( ; n ; )// it's not the same)
Basically for an Asian that means I half-hearted VCE and got a 85.25 ATAR ha ha ha(equivalent to a D- in China) and ended up choosing perhaps the least economically promising field. I will explain this in a little more detail actually. Now.
Well, for starters, many galleries have shut-down; sell-out exhibitions aren't as common anymore. Consumers of Gallery art have been decreasing for a while. I blame this partially on technological advancement. Less people feel the need to experience things in person. There's a good chance whoever you are reading this right now, you've never bought an art-work or a print and a chance you never will. (But Art is SO necessary to humanity, I'm definitely going to splurge in a later Blog about that). There's also a wider spread of art, and A LOT more competition. And because "Art" isn't strictly essential to the immediate practical functions of society, it's a luxury to get funding and a golden gift to have consumers. And I think this sort of situation runs parallel to many other fields.
But what I've realised/interpreted more-so in my first few weeks here, is that the Contemporary culture of Art doesn't want to make money. They have a "that's not what it's about," sort of attitude. Self-expression is a privilege already, and it wouldn't be true Art if you were seeking money. That mindset perhaps contributes to the prior. This isn't a bad thing necessarily, and it makes a lot of sense, but it's intrinsically dangerous from where I'm standing as a 19 year old. This is where 'do what you love' becomes risky. This is why all my friends who were in a similar position to myself graduating year 12 have opted for STEM.
But that's okay because I'm here instead of a Bachelor of Science degree at Monash.
I think I'll definitely mention more on this in the future; it's apart of a very big internal conflict I have and I think discordant worldviews between a student and the perceived culture of a department is a very legitimate thing.
NOTE: These are my views and interpretations of my surrounding environment and do not necessarily reflect upon any of my peers, the staff or the department. #responsibleblogger
And while we're at it. I have depression. *waves enthusiastically* #tooserioustoosoon #confessionsofdepression #rhymes
Because it's so common, it shouldn't be an uncomfortable thing to mention. It shouldn't be idolised either, and I'm not "proud" to have depression, it's definitely a progeny, but it makes the uni experience harder, and I want anyone who gets my feels to gain some strength from witnessing my uni-life. #allinthistogether #highschoolmusical #hushhhh
I spent the first two weeks of my course wanting to cry constantly. There was a day I sat at my studio crying non-stop for an hour. I'm not an extrovert and my basket of social-skills are sort of empty. I've filled it up with Easter eggs over the mid-semester break instead :L
This is sort of the moment I realised that getting my crap together is now fully my responsibility. My artwork, art form, and art-styles I love were also subtly shat on recently, and my need to think in every direction to appeal to the course environment kept me fiddling my thumbs in one-spot. I also expect too much from myself too soon, which never helps. And just other things like, reading week 2's timetable instead of week1's and thinking I arrived an hour early to a class as I sat on a bench and illegally fed pigeons when I was in the wrong location the whole time; thinking I knew the way to the lecture and ending up in side streets navigating on a low-battery phone. Living life on the edge. #specialkindofstupid
But the first step to solving a problem is realising you have one.
Depression and just having a bad start isn't something I can dictate steps to solve. It's a very brain thing: Give yourself a lot of breaks #haveabreakhaveaKitKat. Force yourself to finish an artwork as ugly as blob-fish, just to make a start. And to those of you, who like me, didn't plan to physically make it to University (being alive has been thoroughly confusing), please stay. Please join the Taekwondo and/or Debating club and/or the Choir or any club, and comment that you've joined so I'll finally force myself to tram from Southbank to Parkville to join those clubs too. I'm lazy. That also doesn't help.
But now I'm trying to remember what I loved about my Art. Not just the things I create, but what I envisioned Art to be. And I'm going to have to fight to remember that. And remember, especially the fine-arts kids (maybe even the design kids):
Criticism is advice you don't have to take on. But understanding where it comes from makes you wiser.
So if like me, you've just been confused and baffled and questioning everything. That's alright. First term the worst. Second the Best. Let's make that happen together.
Also, my next post will be short and sweeter, with A LOT of cats. Don't you worry ;D
Momo~ > u <
Hi everyone. This is your new blogger Grace speaking xD
When I was in high school, I had SO many questions about uni ngl, and it would've made life easier if someone answered all of them. I'm delighted to be able to share my experiences at Unimelb with you, and hope the ways I deal with difficult situations can help you out in some way. Stay tuned for more, and feel free to ask any questions you have about uni, finding accommodation or just life in general.
For starters, I'm from a rather small city in New Zealand, so heading to big ol' Melbourne was an adventure of its own. The population of Melbourne is about the same as the whole of New Zealand. Can you imagine that? 4.8 million people squished into one big city. Needless to say, I got lost. The campus is HUGE. Google Maps saved my life on multiple occasions.
On the flip side, I only decided I would be a Unimelb student about a month before I arrived (talk about leaving things to the last minute). Shock horror: there were hurried preparations, but somehow, I'm here. It's 5 weeks into Semester 1, and I'm finding that being a Commerce student isn't that bad. Although if you feel the struggle, welcome to the club. Uni aside, my interests include learning languages (particularly Japanese), doing calisthenics and reading. I also enjoy listening to good stories, so if you've got a good story, I'd like to hear it.
Anyways, thanks for reading my first post, and stay curious like this cute puppy :)
Best,
Grace 😊
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