Graduation Celebrations

The me of a week ago was a frantic mess; how can I think of my science degree graduation when I’m neck-deep in honours assignments and work commitments? What will I wear?! What if I fall over?! Will the weather be okay? Should I wear heels?! WHAT WILL I WEAR?!!

Today (one awards ceremony and one graduation later) I am a much happier, calmer lady – and a graduate! The weather was fantastic, I didn’t face-plant it on stage, and yes, I did wear heels Three year’s work (give or take a few for some graduants) was celebrated in a sea of multi-coloured academic gowns (try not to: strangle yourself, sit on the person’s beside you, or channel your inner Harry Potter and use it as a dementor cape!), mortarboards (is it on the right way? It’s cutting off the blood-flow to my brain!!) and smiling students (or ex-students as the case is now for many). For those who have never experienced a university graduation, I have to say that it was far more interesting than I’d expected – here are my highlights:

• The entrance of the academic procession – loved the outfits!
• Our guest speaker, an exceptionally intelligent, hilarious and wise astronomer from Yorkshire (Professor Frederick Watson – see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Watson) who spoke of the possibility of microorganisms from Mars creating a pandemic here on  Earth (amongst other, slightly more relevant things)
• The ‘musical interlude’ which was a  stunning Adele song performed by creative arts students
• Hearing the crazy shouts from family and friends as their loved ones received their testamurs on stage
• Shaking hands with the chancellor (she was SO friendly, despite my name being at the very end of a very longgg list)

USQ students are so fortunate to have the Japanese Gardens (which are actually the largest traditional gardens in Australia) on our doorstop – and my group made good use of them by sneaking of for a photo shoot after the ceremony (and after our fair share of delicious snacks and drinks; all that clapping is thirsty work!).

I’d like to quickly mention the unsung heroes of graduation… No, not the staff members who help us fix our academic gowns just before we walk on stage – though they are pretty darn important – or the car park traffic directors (it’s a hard job; I remember working last year – standing in a snazzy poncho in the rain trying to prevent car crashes whilst sending graduants in the right direction). I mean the PARENTS and FAMILIES – thank you SO MUCH for your support; you have stood beside us on our respective journeys, and (unless you can’t take the proof-reading of our assignments and cooking of our meals any longer and move to an exotic overseas island to escape) you will remain by our sides for a long time to come. What is more, you do AMAZING things – like making the delicious ice-cream graduation cake below

To my mum, Sandra – you deserve a degree yourself for putting up with three years of stressed-out me!

So, what now? It’s back to the assignments and work commitments, back to normal clothes and normal cakes. With any luck, I’ll be back in the Clive Berghofer Centre graduating from my honours degree next year – bring it on!!

Want to see what some other USQ graduands have to say? Check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnIO4JkpaF0&list=UUp0ShvPUKqiKvfj40bexawg&index=3!

Scholarship Gold at the End of the Rainbow

It’s no myth or legend that there are numerous costs associated with going to university. Whilst course fees, textbooks and other expenses are encountered by students along their academic adventure, you don’t need a lucky horse-shoe or four-leaf clover to make these costs disappear. Besides working a part-time job whilst studying, this year I was able to cover the cost of textbooks and course fees thanks to receiving a scholarship – my pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!

The fable

For many students, both those yet to commence university study and those continuing their academic journey, scholarships are often thought of something mystical, elusive and often out of reach. Unfortunately, this perception could not be further from the truth because scholarships are not as out-of-reach as some may think.

All the colours of the rainbow

Just as there are many colours of the rainbow, there are many different kinds of scholarships available to both students commencing and those continuing university study. Some of these scholarships include:

• Academic – arguably the most traditional form of scholarship, academic scholarships are awarded to a student who has met a certain level of academic achievement based on specific requirements and criteria.
• Community involvement – Whilst most scholarships are awarded on some form of academic achievement, scholarships can also be awarded to reward outstanding community involvement (and can range from a leadership position in high school to being involved in local sporting clubs or even participating in community events).
• Equity – Equity scholarships are awarded to assist students in accessing the necessaries one needs to successfully undertake university study (USQ offers textbook bursaries, relocation assistance and rural scholarships). Commonwealth scholarships might also be available to students who receive welfare support.
• Special – This category embraces the remaining scholarships on offer including sporting scholarships, scholarships for students of genders in non-traditional areas of study, and much more.

Reaching the pot of gold

So now that you know about the kinds of scholarships on offer, the next question is how do we get one? USQ accepts scholarship applications throughout the year until the application closing date usually around mid-October. Applications are not difficult to put together and are a worthwhile investment in your time (considering the fantastic financial reward you may receive).

This year I was awarded the City of Ipswich Scholarship which is donated by the Ipswich City Council to reward a continuing student with a consistent level of academic achievement in addition to community involvement within the city of Ipswich. Not only did this provide financial support for myself, I was able to attend the council meeting and was introduced to the local councillors and the Mayor of Ipswich. Another benefit of receiving this scholarship was being able to attend an awards ceremony where I was able to meet some of the other talented scholarship recipients.

Overall, I strongly encourage all students currently in university or considering university study to apply for scholarships. Hopefully this post has shown the financial benefits of scholarships, quashed the myths surrounding scholarships and demonstrated the array of scholarships available to students for a variety of achievements – scholarships aren’t just for the A+ students anymore.

What scholarships are you eligible for? To find out what scholarships USQ have available, check out www.usq.edu.au/scholarships.

The Ups and Downs of being a Uni Student

Being a university student can be amazing and also at times overwhelming. I am in my second year of nursing and one word that explains my first five weeks of this semester is ‘hectic’. It feels like I am drowning in lectures, readings and assignments.

This semester I am undertaking four subjects: pharmacology, episodes of nursing, mental health and a prac subject. Each subject has a lot of information each week to read and understand, which has been very time consuming.

This semester I have had to do quite a few online quizzes for my subjects and these quizzes count towards my end of semester grade. The quizzes can be quite nerve-racking because I want to get the best grade possible. So far this semester I have been receiving really good marks… so let’s hope I can continue to do so for the rest of the semester. I had one huge assignment that was due a few days before Easter. I left most of the work til the last minute (study tip 101: save yourself the pressure and don’t leave assignments til the last minute).  Don’t worry though, I got the assignment in on time and hopefully receive a good grade for it. If only I started the assignment earlier I would not have had such a stressful week of late nights finishing it. Maybe, just maybe before I graduate I will learn to start assessment pieces earlier.

I have been enjoying my classes this semester though, and I love all of my tutors and lecturers. I am enjoying my practical subject it’s great to be able to put theory in to practice. Each week of this semester has been a bit of a blur because I have been so busy preparing for classes, studying and working part time at Woollies.

The best part of being a university student hands-down is having lots of holidays throughout the year. My Easter holidays are going to consist of: catching up on university work (boring), catching up on sleep, working at Woollies for some spending money, catching up with friends, eating lots of chocolate, baking yummy food, visiting the Australia Zoo with our Japanese exchange student, lots of walks and bike rides on the beach, going to a musical in Brisbane, possibly shopping at the Sunshine Coast and all in all relaxing.

I hope your first few weeks of university haven’t been too hectic like mine. I also hope you have a fun filled, relaxing holiday.

I look forward to blogging again in a few weeks time about my university adventures.

Kara

USQ Springfield Phoenix Carnival – Campus meets community

After conquering the first week of lectures in this new semester (and the mountain of reading of readings pictured above), what better way to relax than share in the celebrations at the Phoenix Carnival.

USQ ran a Phoenix Carnival at each of its campuses to share and celebrate its success with the local community. I was lucky enough to attend the Springfield Phoenix Carnival on March 2nd and it was a great experience for myself, and many other students, to share our #USQPride with the Greater Springfield region.

The day was a hive of activity – the Springfield Markets from Robelle Domain set up their unique stalls, USQ staff ran various activities and various student groups put their hard work on display (including an Aiki Jutsu demonstration and some amazing short films made by the applied media students). Despite the amount of cloud-cover and rainfall, all those who attended the Phoenix Carnival had a fantastic time.

With 2013 marking USQ Springfield Campus’ seventh year since establishment, Phoenix Carnival was the perfect showcase of the vital role the university has played in bringing together local community.

During the day I was able to meet several of the wonderful people at Phoenix Carnival including USQ staff, students and members from the Robelle markets. Inspired by many of the prominent YouTube V-logers (Video-Bloggers) currently trending on the internet, I have put together a V-log of my time at USQ Springfield’s Phoenix Carnival – help me get this one viral!

O-Week: A week to remember.

So it’s here, the return of Semester – and what a way to kick it off! O-Week, as always, saw the university come alive with energy and excitement. Thousands of students came on campus to experience university life (many for the first time). With information sessions, live music, movie nights, party nights and Phoenix Carnival, this was a jam-packed week for our students.

The week kicked off at Alison Dickson Lecture Theatre with the VC, Mrs Jan Thomas, giving an inspiring welcome speech. Students then broke into faculty sessions and had the opportunity to attend workshops such as time management, university services, library tours and many more. And of course, where would O-Week be without some live music, Red Froggers and Free Stuff?

Throughout the week students could take part in Bush Dances, a movie night, an under 18’s Café Crawl and of course – a themed Party Night at The Spotted Cow. The week ended with the first annual Phoenix Carnival – which included live music, market, food stalls and lots of games and activities.
However, I wasn’t sure if words could really re-create the vibe of this week, so I have created a video which showcases the O-Week Journey for our students and staff. Enjoy!

- Amanda

You Can Pass gO Week

It’s that time of year again. The holiday hangover is about to kick in and the stress of exams and assignments will begin. So, why not taken a whole week to settle into uni life, either for the first time or possibly the last? O Week, or as us Concannonites are calling it this year, gO Week, is all about easing back into study and settling into uni life in style. So this year, we have organised the week around a monopoly theme.

At Concannon we devised a set of challenges and points system for the freshers (first years) to complete by the end of the week. The challenge of picking a flower for one of the returnees is proving a little more difficult for some. The challenges and riddles given to the freshers is just an easier and more fun way of getting to know everyone and easing them into the college atmosphere. There is also a special incentive. With an overall prize including an exercise ball, gift voucher and a few extra goodies, the competition is getting heated. 

gO Week is jam-packed with uni events, including Market Day (better known as Freebie Day) and the upcoming Phoenix Carnival, as well as college events such as inter-college Toga Trivia and an Olympiad, just to name a few. In saying that, the planning of college O-Week events is not an easy task, I can tell you first hand.

As part of Concannon’s Residential Student Club (RSC) this year, I get to see the hard work and patience it takes to organise all the inter-college events or even just a movie night on college. So please, think of the hours put in to make all this possible for YOU and enjoy the week!

This week will be a week of ‘firsts’ for many. Not only will it be the first week of uni life and possibly college life, but this week friendships will be made and careers kick-started. For some it may even be the first (and maybe last) time that they will ever do the Chicken Dance while riding a mechanical bull. Yes, that happened. 

The Year to end all Years…

In two days’ time I will commence what I have been told is the most grueling year of a student’s life. A year that will test my academic ability, jeopardize my social life, reduce my sleep bank balance, and compromise my sanity. In two days’ time I will begin a journey that may ‘make or break’ me – Honours Year*. I don’t think the reality of the situation will actually sink in until I’m sitting in that classroom, beginning an 8-day intensive workshop on multivariate analysis, research and thesis proposals, ethical dilemmas, and counselling techniques. For the moment my brain is still enjoying being on holidays, pleased to have completed my undergraduate science degree and to only have casual employment, volunteer work, coffee dates, and road trips to be concerned about. It is hard to comprehend that I should be preparing it for an onslaught of reading, researching, and revising. A week or so ago I was enjoying my 21^st birthday with family and friends – not a care in the world – and now I am bracing myself for the return to study; my textbooks and laptop to be my most important companions.

Thankfully, I am not to brave the storm alone. My family and friends – some of whom have already completed similar study – have been amazingly supportive so far, and I know they will be there again, despite how stressed out, cranky, or deliriously tired I may get.

I am exceptionally lucky in that my boyfriend is also a psychology student and about to begin honours himself, as are several of my friends. I have been teamed up with an amazing thesis supervisor, and have been allocated the topic that most interested me for my research project (Autism Spectrum Disorders). I am confident in the USQ staff and facilities. Ultimately, I think I’ve been given the best chance to succeed that I’m ever going to get. I wouldn’t say ‘bring it on!’ but I’m also not running in the opposite direction just yet.

This year will be a balancing act – I hope to continue working and volunteering (I help at Lifeline one day a week) and maybe even to see daylight and my friends every now and then. Stupidly or not, I even have a cruise booked for July (everyone needs a break!). I’ll check in with you again in a few months to let you know how I’m travelling, and just how skilled I am at time-management…

I thought I’d end with the top three events from my holidays (holidays which are about to fade into nothingness all too soon): 1. As mentioned above, I turned 21! 2. My Rotaract Club organised a movie night that raised almost $1200 for Guide Dogs Queensland – thank you to anyone reading this who supported it! 3. Last but not least, I volunteered at the Woodford Folk Festival – and would recommend it to anyone; especially if you are a poor student and fancy a free ticket and accommodation.

Oh, and I also got be on a bus, wearing my new, free USQ t-shirt! Make sure to come along to the Phoenix Carnival on the 24^th Feb (I am especially looking forward to the fairy floss, movie at sunset, and dunking machine hehe…) Check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3CaOfSy5cU

Well, that’s all from me for the mo’ – off to gather stationery for the big day! :S

- Gena

*For those asking ‘what is this insane-sounding honours year?’ Differences from an undergraduate program include:

• Week-long workshop blocks (with class from 9am-5pm each day), which occur four times a year, rather than several 2/3-hour classes each week. Workshops are often held in the weeks usually considered holidays.
• A research project/thesis due at the end of the year, as well as other ‘normal’ subjects each semester.
• Though it is an on campus program (and cannot be completed unless you attend the workshops), more external-style study is required and students must take the initiative in catching-up with their supervisors and staying on task.
• The program only takes one year of full-time study to complete.

For more information, The University of Southern Queensland website is more accurate than I (check out http://www.usq.edu.au/handbook/current/sci/BSCH.html).

Tips, Tricks and the Turtle Man

A new year, a new semester, a new outlook…time for a new blog. (Well, I have missed the boat on it being a new year – somehow it is already a month into 2013 – I had better start my Christmas shopping). Nevertheless, 2013 has brought with it a gust of excitement. I am entering into my second year of uni and I cannot wait to start!

Crazy, some would say. What’s so great about going back to study after such a great holiday? Let me make the answer clear by re-phrasing the question. “What can university offer me that I can’t get from watching the Turtle Man and Operation Repo all holidays?” Umm…perhaps a degree/career/great life/fulfilment/well-paying job?

Yep, pretty keen to start uni again…

However, this time 12 months ago I would not have only used the wording ‘excited’ to describe my feelings about starting uni. Perhaps add nervous, scared, unsure…and…stressed. So, I would like to dedicate this blog to all of the students starting university for the first time (yippee!). As an experienced uni-goer, I feel I should share with you the tips and tricks I have picked up along the way. Enjoy!

Preparation is first step in a great recipe.

Yep, it’s pretty straight forward – you can never be too prepared. However there are a few key things that I would recommend you plan ahead for.

• Car parking – take notice of the key traffic times and the car parks that generally don’t fill up as quickly. Leave enough time so you can get a park and not have to run to class (I have experienced running with textbooks and a laptop and it’s not easy).

• Lecture slides – most lecturers will upload slides and information before class. If you can, print these off or save them to your laptop in advance. Lecturers will often give important notices or address discussion topics at the beginning of class, so you don’t want to waste this time fumbling for slides.

• A calendar – when you receive your USQ Wall Calender, mark in all assessment dates (including any online quizzes). This way you will be able to see if any courses cross over for assessment, and you can plan your study time accordingly.

• Stationery – it’s a necessity. Sticky notes, highlighters, pens, sticky notes, staples, folders, sticky notes and sticky notes. Don’t forget stick notes.

THE APPROX NUMBER OF STICKY NOTES REQUIRED TO START UNI

Become part of the online community.

Well, you are reading a blog, so I am guessing you devote some time in your life to being part of an online community. So take advantage of USQ’s online spaces and use them to find help, find friends, learn about events and competitions and really become involved in the whole university experience. My personal favourites are Facebook’s Wednesday Motivation, and the Study Spaces board in Pinterest. (And USQ Blogs of course!). Here’s last week’s Wednesday Motivational:

Don’t be afraid to ask.

Okay, so lecturers can be pretty daunting, especially when they are called ‘Professor’ or ‘Doctor’. But you also have to remember that they are teachers. They have chosen to teach you! So don’t be afraid to stay after class and ask them a question (even if you think it’s a dumb question). Also, don’t be afraid to post a question to the online forum (this is a lifesaver the night before an assignment is due and 90% of the class are also wondering the same thing).

Well, I hope this advice has been helpful to anybody starting university for the first time. I wish all returning students the best for the year ahead, and when times are tough – just remember where your hard work is taking you.

PS. If you have any more questions or tips about uni please comment on this post!!!

Wishin’ and hopin’…

…And, as Dusty would say, “thinkin’ and prayin’, and plannin’ and dreamin’”. The end of my science degree – which occurred on the 5^th of November with my final exam – marked a time of relief, celebration, and sleep; but also a period of anticipation. Not only was I awaiting the release of end-of-semester results, I was wishin’ and hopin’ for an offer into the honours program next year…

For those of you considering a future as a psychologist, be warned: the road is a long and competitive one, especially at USQ (as I am beginning to find). From the hundreds of students enrolled in the three-year Bachelor of Science (Psychology) program at the start of first year, less than forty will be accepted into the honours program that follows it – and it’s your GPA that determines your fate. And, if you do get in to honours, you still need two years of supervised practice in the ‘real world’ or a Master’s degree in psych (which – you got it – is ridiculously difficult to get in to as well) before you can become a registered psychologist. ‘Registered psychologist’; two little, very elusive words that will take a minimum of six years, a lot of hard work, and some luck, to call your own.

So, be warned, the mentality that “c’s get degrees’ at uni won’t get you very far if you dream to be a psychologist. That being said, I really enjoyed my science degree and the journey so far, and though I struggled with some of the statistical courses and medical jargon I’m happy I stuck at it. The support was there for me and I’m proud of my achievements. And the holidays have never been better! Since I chose to study year-round (taking on subjects in the summer semester) in my first and second years, this is my first real break since I started – ♪SCHOOL’S OUT FOR SUMMER!!♫ now has real meaning.

So how have I spent the last few weeks of freedom? Well until recently they were comprised of waiting, nail-biting, and checking my emails religiously every few hours, hoping for a few little words that would determine what I would do next year. Did I succeed in my quest for acceptance? You’ll need to wait a little longer before you find out (I’m trying, and most likely failing, to build in you the suspense that I felt). During the first weeks of the holidays I also applied to be a volunteer at Lifeline, trying to gain some experience in the world of counselling and human services. I now work voluntarily one day a week there, and it’s incredible – the people I work alongside are so inspiring and the programs really make a difference in the lives of many.

Aside from this I’ve been continuing to work at my retail job of two years, and also helping to organise a fundraising event with my local Rotaract club. “Fundraising event?” I hear you ask “I am dying to know what you mean”. Well, because you asked (and in an act of shameless promotion)…

So, if you’re in the Toowoomba area, a Disney fan, and wanting to support a great cause, leave me a message and I’ll get you some more information.

Anyway, now that I have sufficiently harassed you with that, back to my holiday goings-on… It hasn’t all been uni anticipation, work, and movie organisation, I’ve also been able to sleep-in (YES), catch-up with family and friends long-lost to the perils of exam block, and even managed to see a band or two. And what about the reckless partying engaged in by newly-finished uni students everywhere? You may wonder. Well, I’m not much of a drinker but I certainly know how to partayy… As you can see below…

Being pretty hard-core late one night drinking chamomile tea whilst watching a ‘gig’ (as they call it) at the local pub.

I didn’t reallyyy let loose however, until after the 26^th of November, when I received a certain email, and later, a certain letter, which looked something like this –

Drum roll…

The week following  the 23^rd of November was an eventful one – I received my semester two results, my official academic transcript, a letter saying I was a graduate of USQ (you may now call me ‘Georgena BSc’), and a letter offering me a place in honours next year. I’m SO excited for what the year ahead will hold, and though I’m told it’ll be one of the toughest of my academic life, I’m just grateful that I’ve been given the chance to take a crack at it.

No more wishin’, waitin’, or hopin’ for me – BRING ON 2013!!

My Summer Job

“The only source of knowledge is experience”

Albert Einstein

With the completion of semester two marking and three full years of university study completed, I was now well over half-way through my double-degree program. As the end of my studies was drawing increasingly closer, I have been searching for opportunities to gain practical experience to support the topics and theories discussed in my courses from semesters past.

Unfortunately, the hard part about trying to find a job/intern position in particular industries, is the fact that most employers desire an employee with industry experience. As a student, we are often faced with the age-old dilemma (as pictured below) to get a job we need experience, but to gain experience, we need a job.

To find a resolution to this dilemma, I contacted a Career Learning Consultant on-campus to see if there were any industry experience or volunteer opportunities available during the summer break. From there I was told of a wonderful opportunity to attain practical experience for my marketing studies, through the business component of my program through enrolling in a work integrated learning course.

Work integrated learning is an opportunity to experience applied aspects of working in a particular industry related to a student’s area of study – enhancing learning through the application of concepts, theories and graduate skills to their set workplace activities. Additionally, the benefit of taking this course lies in the fact that the industry experience imparted through this program will also enhance employment opportunities beyond graduation.

So why should students take up work integrated learning during their university studies? Here are the top five reasons why:

1.  Industry contacts

Networking is a great way to help attain a graduate position after completing university studies. Through undertaking work integrated learning, students work in collaboration with real-world businesses and organisations – granting students regular contact with industry leaders and individuals, with a wealth of experience in their particular field. Through establishing positive contacts with these individuals, there is potential for future employment opportunities with the industry leaders or their organisation for students in their graduate years.

2. Your experience looks good on your resume

Ultimately, employers looking to hire university graduates often look toward the student’s experiences beyond their university study in finding a suitable employee. For this reason, a first-hand experience in the industry has the potential to give a student the upper hand in applying for graduate positions in competing for positions with other university graduates state-wide (and sometimes even nation-wide!).

3.Apply your academic knowledge to industry skills

This is the essence of work integrated learning. By providing an opportunity for students to collaborate with real-world organisations to showcase and apply their acquired knowledge, students are able to experience and practice first-hand the relevance of their studies within their prospective industry.

4. The experience will allow you to narrow down your list of potential career.

Work integrated learning allows students to have a taste of the kind of work, duties and responsibilities required of an individual in a particular industry. Through this, students will have a greater understanding of the industry they are placed in and will therefore be better able to make a judgement on whether they would enjoy a career in their particular industry.

5. Unforgettable life experience

In light of the quote by Albert Einstein above, every experience is an opportunity to expand your knowledge and is therefore another reason why work integrated learning is valuable to the student’s learning.

I am now five weeks into my marketing placement where I am working alongside an advertising agency, putting my knowledge into practice in assisting to deliver particular branding materials to specific organisations – including making taglines, creating content for websites and presenting the agencies vision on how promotions should be targeted and coordinated.

I am very appreciative for this opportunity and cannot wait to see what further experiences it may offer.