I’d like to express my excitement for our first week back at uni, it is now upon us, welcome to all old and new!

UTS has been buzzing and bustling with orientation activities for the past two weeks and for those of us that have been involved it is almost a poignant end to all the delightful and dizzying activities, the BBQ’s, O’festival, O’day, ‘Historical Tour of the Rocks’ (ie pub crawl), mingling, information sessions, campus tours and official welcomes...to name a few!

I really hope that all our new students both local and international were satisfied with the orientation. As a Peer Networker (and my fellow peer networkers will understand this), I feel a responsibility to make new students transition to UTS as seamless and enjoyable as possible. More than likely, every new student has been swarmed by the bright sea of smiley, eager, eye catching-orange wearing individuals scouting the campus to lend a hand and spread the fun. With over 120 of us it’s hard to hide. If you are a new student, we will find you!!

UTS Residences alike has been overflowing with a new energy and new faces. My post as Residential Networker for my level at Gumal is a hearty job and RN’s have had the task of organizing activities that would interest across the board and I’m glad to see those who get involved and make the most of it... with many an occasion going off with a bang! We’ve already had a ‘burnt toast’ fire alarm at the peaceful hour of 4am (it’s inevitable at the start of semester hehe) but that comes with learning the ropes just like anything.

Students have begun to settle in and meet their new flat mates and make friends from all over the world. This semester I have three new flat mates each from a different country with a unique and different story for picking UTS. One of my fellow residents has said to me most jovially that they wake up and just can’t believe they’re in Sydney. I replied most fondly... the best is yet to come!

So Autumn Semester 2008 here we come and till my next post, enjoy!

Posted by Bonnie on February 27, 2008 5:34 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The mid semester break is a great time-out to chill out and catch up on the things we have been too busy for during semester. With a superb streak in fine and steaming hot weather, I was glad to be free…

If you are one of the lucky ones, you won’t find yourself with assignment tasks and exam preparation. However this is rarely the case, so we must make the most of our time away from class. I sure was flat out enjoying myself however one thing was on my mind before the break began…my graduation. Since I was enrolled in a combined degree, I had the choice to graduate in one and continue in the other…so here I was with a year still left of my Science degree graduating from a Business degree.

If you were around during Vice Chancellor’s Week you may have noticed students and staff in their graduation gowns and hats pouring out of the Great Hall –yes, it was graduation week, and it would not surprise me if it was recognized for kilometres from the Broadway entrance.

Graduation is a day of much anticipation, esteem and excitement. It includes worrying about what to wear (under the gown of course), shoes are of utmost importance, who to give the three tickets to (will aunty Paula be upset?), how much merchandise one can possibly accumulate on the day without over-doing it, for example the cute teddies or that UTS jumper you always wanted but couldn’t justify the purchase, (and realize that if only you bought it earlier you could have been wearing it to uni all this time). And really, is there a legal limit to how many photos or footage one captures on the day? I myself cleared 50 photographs, however I do believe I was more than outdone. I witnessed students with what could be likened to their own entourage of photographers! Others were a little more low profile. When one realizes the significance of the graduation ceremony, as a milestone now forever achieved, who wouldn’t want to relish in it for as long as you could?

Of course graduation means something different for every graduate. To some it’s the end of tertiary education and time to pursue that career, head to the pub, go on that Caribbean holiday, start a family, move cities or whatever else one can fathom and to others it’s the beginning of more tertiary education!

I’m still receiving graduation memorabilia in the mail, reminding me of the exciting day, and I say to everyone, it is a time to look forward to and enjoy. Even if you’re not graduating at the same time as your friends, you can recognize faces and even make friends on the day!

As I reminisce I think about how eager I was to finish my degree and I would advise others to make the most of every moment along the way as UTS will forever be in your memories. And remember, once you complete your undergraduate degree, there is no going back.

Posted by Diana on October 16, 2007 5:08 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Diana is the name. I'm studying a Bachelor of Science and Business majoring in what has evolved to become an interesting combination of Finance and Biomedical Science. I have been living ‘on campus' (being a city campus we don't really have a conventional one) in UTS Residences since the beginning of 2006 and I am enjoying it immensely. I'm part of the Peer Network and Tandem Buddy Program and various other volunteer activities. I was also elected a member of the Student Representative Council for 2007. Outside of university I enjoy an array of hobbies such as dance, music and writing and really enjoy a friendly chat or a well deserved night out on the town! With the cocktail of campus life, residential life and external activities semesters either shaken or stirred are eventful to say the least.

Posted by Diana on July 5, 2007 11:38 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)