Moments of Insight
These key experiences have helped shape my values and skills, helping me better understand how to see from other people's perspectives, and work collaboratively with diverse groups of people. These experiences have stuck with me and helped in preparing me for my future career aspirations as a mechanical engineer.
Malaysia Trip 2023
My family love to travel and in 2023 we decided to go to Malaysia to experience the culture and customs rather than typical resort tourism. We wanted to better understand how locals live and immerse ourselves in a different environment, broadening our cultural perspectives. Throughout our time in Malaysia, we needed to navigate language barriers, adapt to unfamiliar situations, and embrace cultural differences. Malaysia is primarily a Muslim country, and I distinctly remember our time in Kuala Lumpur as it overlapped with the Muslim custom of Ramadan, and during this period I was introduced to their culture and food traditions, embracing them and stepping out of my comfort zone. I developed greater cultural awareness through having discussions with our local tour guides and food vendors, building my confidence in interacting with diverse groups of people. Reflecting on this experience, I've come to appreciate that people approach situations, decisions and interactions differently based on their own experiences. This outlook has shaped how I engage with others, encouraging me to consider perspectives beyond my own, allowing me work effectively within diverse teams.
Image of fishing town in Bornean Rainforesment
Interior of the National Mosque of Malaysia, guide explaining the construction of the holy site
Courtyard of the National Mosque of Malyaia
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Youth Advisory Council Reflection
I joined the Youth Advisory Council for the Coomera Electorate after recognising a lack of youth representation in my area. Bus routes were not ideal for students, there were no community engagement events, and there was also no way for young people to find out about local initiatives and what our member of parliament was up to. As one of the council's inaugural members, it was my responsibility to figure out how to best reach out to youth, how to hear the needs, and how create a better sense of community in the electorate. With the support of our member of parliament, I was able to amplify the voices of Coomera youth and raise their concerns of bus routes, create our first initiatives for community engagement, and start to share our accomplishments on social media platforms. The council has successfully created opportunities for young people to become more informed, involved and represented, building a strong sense of community in the electorate. Reflecting on my time in the council, the experience has strengthened my leadership, teamwork and communication skills, while also developing my problem solving and stakeholder engagement abilities, all essential skills for engineering. I am going to continue representing the youth of the Coomera electorate with plans to further expand our initiatives Gold Coast wide, encouraging other electorates to give youth a voice in council.
Photo of the Youth Advisory Council for the Coomera Electorate at the Brisbane Parliament
Courtyard of the Birsbane Parliament taken when going for a tour
Interior of a chamber in the Brisbane Parliament, a guide explaining the rooms purpose