Why did you choose to study at the University of Melbourne?
I wanted to pursue graduate study to enhance and upskill professionally and personally. The University of Melbourne courses aligned with my goals to meet the demands of the IT industry. Through this course I was able to broaden my network across different science disciplines and pursuing further academic study was something I knew would help me with my long-term goals.
As an international student from Sri Lanka, moving to Melbourne was the most seamless experience. Thanks to the pre-departure briefings, I was well-informed with what I had to do when I arrived in Melbourne and was given a checklist to ensure that I was ready to commence my course. Personally, the orientation week was the highlight. There were stalls all around campus, numerous activities, meeting new people from different walks of life, the sheer joy and excitement was why it was special and an experience that I will never forget.
What inspires you about your current area of study?
I have a strong desire for problem-solving and analysing, which has led me to Data Science. Solving complex data issues tingles my passion further, every passing moment. Personally, revealing insights from data has been a great source of inspiration, as it challenges me to think in a streamlined way and gives me the opportunity to articulate insights in a useful and audience-friendly manner.
What has been your favourite experience as a student at the University of Melbourne?
The highlight so far has been learning different programming languages throughout the course. These new languages have enabled me to explore and interact with different applications that are widely used across the data science industry. One such example was developing a dashboard for road accidents across Victoria using Tableau. Another fond memory was developing a cloud-based solution for a Twitter harvester.
Introspectively, these new skills have allowed me to further expand on a wide range of technical and digital capabilities. Going forward, it is my sincere belief that upon completion of my degree, these newly acquired skills will match the industry’s exponentially growing demands.
What advice would you give someone interested in your course or studying science?
Personally, I have stuck with my version of 3P’s principle, which is passion, people, and progress. I cannot stress the importance of pursuing your passion and being surrounded by the right people leading towards your ultimate goals. I would advise new students to be as open-minded and daring as possible during your short tenure at university. Do not hesitate at the slightest chance of networking or embracing the myriads of challenges that come along with this rollercoaster ride pursuing a degree at Unimelb. Take every opportunity and network passionately with your cohort for this will be equally important as the certificate upon completion. Finally, do not forget to enjoy this tumultuous journey that you are about to embark upon.
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