Meet Texa, an infectiously vibrant second-year Master of Food and Tech student who moved to Australia from India.
Born into a family deeply rooted in agriculture, with a father who was a farmer, Texa’s initial path seemed naturally aligned with her roots. However, after completing a Bachelor of Agriculture and working as a farm officer, she realised it only scratched the surface of her curiosity. It was a combination of enrolling in a food processing course and a personal aspiration to move away from being a self-proclaimed “terrible chef” that unexpectedly directed her path towards Food and Tech. This shift sparked her interest in learning about the technology that enhances food, making it not only better and safer but also more accessible.
Choosing Australia for her master’s was influenced by the climate, reminiscent of home, and the presence of her four cousins already located in Perth. Yet, the transition was far from seamless. Texa experienced extreme culture shock and found herself really struggling with the environment, accents, and adapting to different academic styles. She felt like she lost her voice and a little bit of herself within that period. When she was ready, she decided to join Curtin Volunteers! intending to meet new people and make connections. She reminded herself that she wasn’t going anywhere, and needed to stick it out and see what happened.
Getting out of her comfort zone has been her most challenging experience so far. She realises now being the first grandchild in the family, and most pampered delayed her independence, a quality that she holds to high importance. Once she was in Australia she had to continually remind herself that she wasn’t going back, and needed to move forward. Slowly, the things she thought were impossible became possible.
Now reflecting on her experience, she realises that her favourite aspect of uni so far has been the interactions with students, and teachers. At first being in Australia, she was shocked by calling your lecturer their first name and the casual friendships students and teachers had during class. But this cultural shift became a cornerstone of her development, fostering a learning environment where she felt empowered to ask questions, seek help, and ultimately form meaningful connections with her university community.
Balancing her studies with two jobs and volunteering has meant that sometimes her wellness has moved lower down the list. However, recently she came to realise the importance of having time for yourself, and making time for fun and now tries harder to honour that. When talking with Texa you can tell how important family is to her. She is extremely grateful for the family she has back home as they inspired her along her journey, she is extremely grateful for the cousins she has in Australia as they keep her going daily. Ultimately, she is grateful for the women in her family as they are her motivation. From the environment where Texa has grown, she realises how important it is for her to live her life, to be Texa and Texa only.
Texa lives by the motto of polishing herself every day, a philosophy from an actor in India that guides her relentless pursuit of knowledge and self-improvement. Texa is inspired by the analogy of the actor who claims that he was not born talented but became skilled through constant refinement, polishing his craft every day. Texa applies this principle to her own life, striving to be a better human being and a more proficient professional through continuous learning and growth. For her, further study is not just an option; it’s a necessity in a world that is becoming increasingly complex. After graduation, Texa plans to take a break to focus on her health and well-being before embarking on a career in the food industry, and one day envisions starting her own business (potentially with her cousins). Texa recognises that a master’s degree is just the beginning, and she is determined to go beyond, seeking certifications to deepen her expertise.
In such a short time, Texa has undergone significant personal growth and many wonderful adaptations of self. Her story demonstrates the power of moving forward, stepping away from your comfort zone and how small daily actions of polishing yourself take you many steps closer to your broader goal.
