Katrie Lowe
The most valuable part from my overseas experiences as a student was actually meeting people.
Recipient of a Prime Minister’s Endeavour Award
Host university: Tsinghua University, China
What prompted you to apply for the award?
I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to undertake my capstone overseas. Following that, since I would finish my degree, to go straight into the work force and start my career overseas.
Why did you choose Asia in particular?
With my International Studies degree, I already had experience studying and living in China, and I was really inspired by that experience so I thought this would be a great opportunity to continue that and develop my language skills, something I’d been working on for quite some time. Since I’ve always wanted to work in China, it seemed like the most obvious step.
What was the most valuable part of your experience?
The most valuable part from my overseas experiences as a student was actually meeting people, just, simply meeting people. Before going overseas I thought it was rather exciting that I had the opportunity to meet local people and understand, for example, the Chinese culture in more depth. But, once overseas, I realised I had the opportunity to meet people from all different countries and I made friends with people in Europe, in South America, and all these countries. So, now, I have friends all over the world and everywhere I travel I can just say hello to someone. It makes the world feel closer to home.
Do you have any advice for a student considering going overseas?
First, it’s the challenge- everyone likes some adventure. For me, especially, I’d never been overseas, or lived overseas, and I’d never lived on my own so the challenge of stepping out as an independent person, was something exciting for me. Through that experience I learnt how to adapt, and coming back from all these overseas experiences, I’m capable of doing anything. In any new environment, I can survive.
The second thing I would say is the fun of it, of the experience. For some reason, when you go overseas, you’re more efficient with your time. You’re not only studying, you’re also on holiday. By efficient, I mean you don’t spend your free time just watching TV, you actually go out and see a new site and meet so many new friends, so you have friends to go out with.
The third thing is, I actually do realise the benefits that it has to my career. Now I’m a graduate, I’ve been to so many interviews where they’ve been very impressed by my overseas experience and I do feel that it has set me apart from a lot of other candidates.
