It's easy to spot Mother Nature's beauty in flowers - pink blossoms, red roses, blue hydrangeas... A million years of pollination in harsh environments have transformed bland flowers into the dichotomy of colours we see today. Human evolution has likewise transformed homo sapiens through adversity. Like transformed flowers, our challenges and experiences help us become unique individuals.
Focus on what you can control
The University provides a variety of platforms to access knowledge and resources. Making use of these resources contributes to your own personal and professional development. It leads us to act in the best, and most adaptive ways. I recommend:
- Studying on campus during Library Opening Hours if you’re in Melbourne. I highly recommend the Giblin Eunson Library. Here are other libraries you could check out.
- Reading weekly MBS Newsletters and My.UniMelb notices for events and opportunities
- Browsing Careers Online, which enables you to customise job preferences and find information about events, support services, and job opportunities.
- Using Smart Resume - a brilliant platform that leverages artificial intelligence and data analytics to score your resume amongst other users.
Attention is a precious commodity. At its core, the Stress and Performance Curve suggests that we study at our best when experience stress. Too much, and you become overwhelmed, too little, and you become unmotivated. Like in nature, it is essential to be balanced with your studies. Based on this framework, I created a ‘to-do' list and a ‘not-to-do' list which prioritises my time and capabilities.
Everything difficult will have some level of stress associated with it, but don't fear this - use it to your advantage! It can be tempting to put this off but if you don't, you may be significantly rewarded - you’ll open greater opportunities, learn more about yourself and discover new passions.
Be gentle with yourself and give space to all your feelings
We have rediscovered a newfound kindness towards ourselves and our well-being as a result of COVID-19. We need to continue to strengthen our muscles and treasure every illuminating moment brought about by human connection.
I stress the value of circadian rhythms since high performance is an energy-intensive process. Daily scheduling creates predictability, but maintaining good physical conditions helps us cope with uncertainty. Set boundaries with your time. Rather than experiencing constant stress and feeling demotivated by an overwhelming workload, go outside, enjoy the sunshine or feel the night’s breeze. The University gym has reopened and is a great way to maintain physical and mental wellbeing. It has a range of classes available at different times, allowing flexibility around your schedule. Putting that one hour to effective use will pay dividends in alertness, positivity, and better sleep quality. Be sure to check it out.
After a workout at the gym, you can pamper yourself by bringing all your senses to the kitchen. I know many students who are scared of cooking, but fear not! I discovered that cooking is for both the soul and mind - it captures a sensory experience that accentuates self-love and overall wellbeing. Initially, I found cooking daunting. However, through repetition, I was able to master this essential skill. I tapped into my inner chef and benefited from seeking a healthy and sustainable way to please my appetite and spirit. The fundamental lesson is to approach things with care, love, and empathy. These qualities are not only good for the soul, but enable us to build meaningful relationships with others and ourselves.
The happiest people are those who have meaningful connections in their lives. Be part of a community and join a club or society through the Graduate Student Association and UMSU's Club Listing page, where you'll find like-minded individuals . You can also get connected by joining the Mentoring and Student Ambassador Program (like yours truly). Don't be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. Remember that the most challenging part is taking that first step - take a chance and invest in yourself.
Participating in these activities will help us identify what we value. Be authentic and vulnerable with your emotions. Success and failure are crucial as these personal reflections will propel us towards our life goals.
We are united, and you are not alone
Our generation is experiencing systemic challenges like poverty, racism, violence, and climate change. Our mission is to combat these problems by working as a unified team and putting aside our differences - The central thematic to eliminate racism and create a greener, more sustainable planet must revolve around mutual respect, diversity and inclusion.
The CEO of an organisation I used to work at once said something that resonates with me to this day: "The great aim of education is not knowledge, but action."
At Melbourne Business School, I was genuinely impressed by the brilliant entrepreneurship of my peers. Many graduates nurture ideas of one day running a start-up. What has significantly appealed to me is their commitment to doing business for altruistic purposes, to better the communities and societies they serve. I believe in the UN's call for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which has empowered me to volunteer at start-up NGOs, a part of the UN, to take each idea off the ground. I found my place in this perpetually changing world by working together with diverse individuals from a plethora of different backgrounds to solve humanity's greatest challenges.
This year, as we return to campus, let us be more assertive, brave and resilient. Let's make an effort to be upstanding global citizens underpinned by mutual respect, cohesion, and understanding.
I wish you all the best, and please feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn if you have any questions or want to chat about values.
I’ll leave you with one of my favourite quotes:
"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. Nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyses needed efforts to convert retreat into advance." - Former President of the United States of America, Franklin D. Roosevelt, during his First Inaugural Address in 1933.
Thanks for reading!
- Pengyu (Phoebe) Shan, MBS Student Ambassador