Let’s Talk About It – Transitioning to Uni

Meet Biji, a Marketing student here at Curtin. Before coming to Curtin, Biji grew up in Nepal and spent time studying in India.

Living away from her parents gave her an early taste of independence, and although she enjoyed it, the transition to university life in Perth wasn’t smooth at first. She struggled to make friends and adjust to her new environment. However, things turned around when she moved into student accommodation, where hosting events and becoming a resident assistant helped her break out of her shell and form lasting friendships. 

Biji chose marketing because she’s always had a passion for business. Since childhood, she’s dreamed of starting her own company, possibly in the fashion industry. For her, studying marketing was a natural step toward understanding how to promote and grow her future business. Though initially excited to embrace life in a new country, Biji admits that her early expectations of making friends quickly and balancing studies with socialising weren’t as easy to accomplish as she’d hoped. She had to become more focused on her academics as the workload increased, particularly now that she’s applying for internships. 

While Biji has enjoyed the creative side of marketing, there have been challenges, especially when it came to referencing and writing assignments. The early struggles even led to some teary moments, but she found support through library workshops and her first-year mentor, who helped her navigate the academic demands. Now more confident and settled, she’s paying it forward by mentoring new students herself. Reflecting on her time at Curtin, Biji highlights her experience in student accommodation and the fun of hosting events as some of her best memories. 

Here are Biji’s recommendations to ease into uni life: