Where is your home country?

Suriname

What did/do you study?

Bachelor of Arts in Communication (Social Inquiry) and Masters of Social Work

Where did/do you study?

University of Technology Sydney and Australian Catholic University

What languages do you speak?

Cantonese, Dutch, English, Hainanese, Mandarin and Surinamese

Fun fact

I love learning languages. In Suriname where I grew up, I used four languages on a daily basis. On top of that, I was also exposed to Brazilian, Portuguese, Spanish, Hindi, and Javanese as Suriname is a multicultural country. The next language that I will be learning is Brazilian Portuguese. However, that doesn't stop me from learning other languages when I get the chance.

What opportunities has studying in NSW given to you?

Studying in NSW has given me the opportunity to develop my skills in ways that I didn't know was possible. I became good at public speaking and advocacy through my work experience at UTS Insearch where I helped international students prepare for studying at university. I was also lucky enough to complete an accredited work placement at the City of Sydney Council as a Social Work Intern.

What advice do you have for other international students?

If you want to gain more work experience and job opportunities, start with volunteering and networking. You will be amazed at how many opportunities are out there.

What has been your favourite experience in NSW?

My favourite experience in NSW would be during my studies at UTS Insearch, which is a culturally and linguistically diverse community. During the time that I was studying at UTS Insearch, I was also part of the volunteer team and student helper team and worked closely with our Student Event and Orientation Coordinator, who was very supportive of our creative initiatives. Whenever we had new ideas, we were able to execute those ideas into our events and activities. We used our personal experiences to help the new students settle in. The best part of that experience was knowing that I was a part of other students’ journeys by welcoming the new students, getting to know them by connecting them with other people and seeing them graduating from their courses.