A Curtin University student from Vietnam has helped officially welcome more than 1000 international students to Perth during an inaugural welcome event held at Government House.
Amelia Nguyen, aged 21, moved to Perth from Hai Phong in northern Vietnam four years ago, and played a major role in the first event of its kind held in Western Australia for international students.
Following an official welcome by the Honourable Kim Beazley AC, Governor of Western Australia, Ms Nguyen spoke to the 1000-strong crowd about her experiences of living and studying in Perth.
“The more I get to know Perth, the more I fall in love with it because of the people, nature and the community,” Ms Nguyen said.
“The Perth CBD has a real urban vibe, there are plenty of different cultural attractions and the food is definitely a favourite of mine. There is a great Korean, Japanese and Malaysian food scene here. In fact, I think the Malaysian food here is even better than in Malaysia.
“The people here are so friendly. When I first arrived, everyone really helped me to navigate campus and the city. The more I travel around the world and meet other students, the more I realise how lucky I am in Perth.”
Ms Nguyen completed a Bachelor of Commerce (Logistics and Supply Chain Management and Marketing) before starting a Master of Commerce (Information Technology) at Curtin last year.
She said she had made the most of every opportunity made available to her and encouraged other students to do the same.
“I have been involved in student clubs, the industry association and have benefited from some incredible workplace internships during my studies at Curtin University,” Ms Nguyen said.
“I have always done student mentoring and tutoring and I always encourage other students to step out of their comfort zone, check their student emails and sign up for everything.
“If you want something that you never had, you have to do something you have never done.”
Ms Nguyen hopes to gain international experience by working as a business analyst bridging the gap between business and technology across South East Asia before returning to a future career in academia in Perth.
For more information about the welcome event, visit here: https://www.studyperth.com.au/blog/2019/02/18/inaugural-welcome-for-was-2019-international-students/
