Meet Carine, a third-year Bachelor of Science (Environmental Science) student whose study so far has been shaped by her love of animals and her ability to push herself beyond her comfort zone.
Originally from Malaysia, Carine moved to Australia to finish Year 11 and 12. Carine’s first year at uni was challenging due to her introverted nature, and found it difficult to make friends or participate in social activities. After watching movies and seeing students enjoy uni together, Carine expected to have the same experience, but found herself too shy to join clubs and events, but as time passed, Carine decided it was time to step out of her shell and embrace the uncomfort. This led her to join a John Curtin Weekend, a volunteering weekend experience ran by Curtin Volunteers!.
She also tried-out for an ultimate frisbee team, which helped her to grow in confidence and connect with other students. The game included training weekly, as well as social competitions, allowing her relationships to flourish, and to have consistent opportunities to further connect with others. Balancing sports and academics wasn’t always easy, but Carine found that her involvement in Ultimate Frisbee helped her maintain a sense of structure. Despite feeling tired, she’s proud of herself for joining a team and feels that her commitment to the team inspires her to continue expanding her comfort zone and showing up in every training session.
Carine’s real breakthrough came in her second year when she discovered an international internship opportunity through Curtin’s Global Office. Always passionate about conservation, Carine had struggled to find internships in Australia that matched her keen interest in animal conservation, within environmental science. The internship, based in Indonesia, was centered around working with orangutans.
Carine was accepted into the internship and traveled to Indonesia, where she spent a month working on a project mapping suitable sites for rehabilitated orangutans to be released back into the wild. The work was both challenging and rewarding, with one of the most memorable aspects being able to see the wildlife up close.
“We didn’t see orangutans at the restoration site, but we hiked up to a national park and saw a baby orangutan, which was so cute!”
Beyond the fieldwork, Carine found the experience enriching on a cultural level as well. “I got to know Australian culture better because most of the people there were Australian. In class, I don’t talk much, so it was a new experience for me.” Initially becoming inspired to work in the field, after watching a Steve Irwin conservation show, Carine’s passion for animals and conservation goes beyond just academics and internships. Back in Malaysia, she participated in a similar volunteer project, hiking through jungles to collect behavioral data on monkeys. These experiences have only strengthened her desire to work in conservation after graduation and is eager to work with animals, whether in a rehabilitation center or a zoo.
Looking back over her university journey, Carine openly admits the difficulties of being far from home. Although she still gets homesick, she’s found ways to stay connected with her family through video calls and by keeping a picture of her family as the background of her phone to remind her that they’re always there. Despite the homesickness, Carine loves Australia and its rich biodiversity. She hopes to gain work experience in Australia and contribute back to the natural environment and communities.
For Carine, her university experience has been a journey of self-discovery. She encourages other students, especially international students who relate to being introverted, to take the leap and try new things, even when it feels daunting.
“It’s really important to step out of your comfort zone. It can be lonely at first, but once you start exploring and making connections, it gets easier.”
As she looks ahead to the future, Carine is excited to continue her work in conservation and hopes to make a meaningful impact on the world. Whether it’s rehabilitating orangutans or working in environmental policy, she’s ready to take on whatever comes next, and to continue expanding her networks and her comfort zones!
