Jolene
Malaysia
Institution: Griffith University
Jolene has been studying communications in Australia for just over a
year. Her decision to come to Australia to continue her education was
based on Australia’s competitive tuition fees.
Also, Jolene’s sister was already studying in Australia and Jolene had
heard “many good things about the [education] system.”
Now that she is studying in Australia, Jolene is happy with the freedom
students have to express their thoughts, and that there is no
restriction on the topics they can discuss in class.
Though Jolene believes a person’s success is largely a product of their
own efforts and determination, she is sure that her Australian degree
will help her get a job. Jolene also believes the communications field
back home in Malaysia will benefit from recruiting graduates of
Australian institutions because of the exposure graduates obtain from
studying abroad.
Jolene points out that international students need to be ready for
differences in food, culture, language, behaviour and religion.
However, Jolene had little difficulty feeling at home in Australia. She
is particularly fond of the fact that Australians are more relaxed, and
that they spend more time with family. And she would “definitely”
consider further study in Australia.
As for her advice to others considering studying in Australia: “Go for
it, you never know what opportunities might [come from] studying in
Australia.”