Written by Kim Dohee, Zoljargal Ariunbold and William Daniel SuciptoIs privacy invasion a major problem for the wellbeing of international students? Recently, humanity has made groundbreaking discoveries and technological advancements with gadgets including smartphones, computers and applications that have significantly changed international students’ way of living. The biggest of these discoveries in recent decades is the creation of smart devices, social media platforms and applications. These apps are currently a major part of our lives, as most of us are dependent on them as living without them seems unimaginable. This dependence or “addiction” is especially true for international students, because … Continue reading Savvy-Navvy

Written by Ayesha Almualem, Mohammed Alnuaimi and Angel Cao Imagine yourself living far from home, where a sense of longing has always lingered around you. Would you give in and let your emotions take over or would you look for a way to get over this unsettling feeling? Unlock the door to your independence and immerse yourself with the beginnings of the thrilling journey of a fresh out of high school international student. How do international students feel and deal with the conflicts and contradictions of living alone in Melbourne? RASHED (18)United Arab Emirates No stranger to living life to … Continue reading Playing House

Written by Erick Zhou As international students, we’ve all moved from one country, one culture, one language to one completely different country. Moving to another county at a young age can bring with it many challenges. The memories of an international student’s first days in Australia can be a mix of anxiety and surprises, making their self-confidence drop lower and lower until as they get used to this new environment. Which is why in this two-part article, we will explain the importance of self-love for international students and the influencing factors. WHAT IS SELF-LOVE?Self-love, like self-esteem, can be defined as how … Continue reading Love Thy Self: The Epidemic of Low Self-love Pt 1

Written by Celia Feng and Jocelyn Lee Struggling to free yourself from the swamp of academic writing? Ever feel as if there is a huge block of essays that you need to climb, but you’re a Lego figure that can’t seem to plant your foot anywhere firmly? Don’t worry – many others students do as well. In this article we are going to roam the world of international students to explain why this writer’s block exists. Revealing their struggle on the battlefield as international students are faced with adversity in tackling their biggest nemesis as learners, we’ll also give tips … Continue reading Break-a-Block

Written by Zecheng Huang, Xinru Lin, Jerry Li, and Phal Panhabotr Pen We suppose having both good personal space and a good, personal space can provide many benefits to our mental health and wellbeing. Mental health and wellbeing are two important things that international students should be taking care of, especially as they are living in an unfamiliar environment that can be overwhelming to get used to. With all the school work and personal matters that may need to attend to, there are many ways in which their personal space can be arranged; but we will focus on two and … Continue reading Reconfigured Spaces

Written by Gerard Chow Si Kai, Anthony Ramos Escobal and Yanchen Li As underlined by recent research conducted by the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Dartmouth College, people speak about 16,000 words on an average day with at least 65% of those involve discussing “social ” topics . This can include everything from talking about themselves to revealing personal information about other people through various conversations. But does the setting for these engaging talks matter? In the tertiary education sector, the majority of international students heavily depend on information they obtain through language study, research and social interaction … Continue reading I’m Obsessed

Written by Monnie Zhou, Charon Mao, Jasper Zhang and Yancy Liu In recent years, it has been found in a recent 2022 study by the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) that the literacy levels of international students has taken an unprecendented decline over the last few years, with a vast majority of students seemingly lacking interest in extracurricular reading. In an attempt to reinvigorate and help increase international students’ literacy and interest in reading, we chose a range of works to recommend that they start with and what they can learn from the examples. SKIP TO LOAFER (2023) DIR. … Continue reading Currently Watching: Life Lessons Edition

Written by Arisa Miyaguchi, Darcy Wu and Hannah Francesca See University campuses are vibrant hubs where academic pursuits meet eclectic personal interests, with international students bringing along a diverse range of hobbies and passions that often flourish alongside their commitment to their studies. To observe and showcase the dynamic balance between education and personal growth of international students, let’s delve into the stories of four such individuals. NINON WEBBFashion Designer Ninon Webb’s day starts with philosophy and literature as the underlying rhythm of her heart beats for the vibrant world of fashion design. “My academic focus is a stark contrast … Continue reading Beyond Books: Unveiling International Students’ Passions

Written by Mei Minami, Carrie Ngai, Jaycee Jiang and Undramjargal Buyanjargal Stick around or head home? In a survey we conducted with international students in Melbourne, nearly 50% of students planned to stay in Australia post-graduation, but why? As one of the most popular study destinations for students seeking quality tertiary education, the amount of international students heading to Melbourne in recent years has begun to resemble the city’s pre-COVID popularity. However, recent reports about new policies coming from the Department of Home Affairs has revealed that the Australian federal government have announced intentions to increase visa rejections in a … Continue reading Heading/ed Home

Written by Jeffrey Shen, Sherry Zhang and Charlotte Wu A recent ongoing study from Straits Research has projected that the rapid growth of the luxury fashion market will continue to soar in popularity; with the likely potential of increasing its worth by close to $200B USD by the year 2031. And although many consumers of high end goods are young people, only a specific sub-section of this age group, international students, have taken a keen liking to these luxury brands. The never-ending obsession with fashion pieces from various designers including Gucci, Balenciaga, Off-White and Louis Vuitton, have raise a lot … Continue reading Status Symbol