Achieving my dreams at Deakin University

For me life has been a roller coaster ride, full of highs and lows. But I believe every experience in life teaches and guides us towards the betterment of ourselves. No matter how long the journey is, it should be exciting and one to always remember.

After completing my Bachelors in Fashion Design from Pakistan Institute of Fashion Design, Lahore, I worked with several fashion design houses. After spending some years in the industry, I concluded that I was more interested in marketing a product rather than creating it. So, I left the designing field and worked with a few organizations to explore the world of marketing. I started to enjoy this field, and as I was getting more competent, I realised that I can be a better marketer than a fashion designer. This experience persuaded me to pursue a proper degree in the field of marketing, and what better place to study than in Melbourne, one of the most liveable cities in the world.

Excited to be studying at Deakin Burwood campus

The degree which instantly grasped my attention was Master of Marketing at Deakin University because of its broad range of marketing course units. Since my bachelor was not in marketing, it was important for me to study the subject extensively. The lectures at Deakin University have been amazing because of the exceptional standards of studies such as the content and structure of the courses. Not only do our highly qualified teachers guide us regarding the theories of marketing, but they also link it to the practicality of it as well. There is no point of studying only theories, if we cannot apply them into the real world. The marketing course units have been developed to link the two worlds of academics and industry together. My course director and tutors have been an amazing support throughout my studies.

Deakin University Burwood Campus is one of the biggest campuses in Melbourne. It is in the beautiful suburb of Burwood where there is an abundance of open spaces such as creeks and parks. Architecture-wise, the campus is very well planned and designed.

When I came to Melbourne, I applied for on-campus jobs and luckily, I got a role as a Casual Staff at the Deakin Library. The job made it quite easy for me to bear my living expenses and I had a really good time working there. The services at Deakin University such as UniHub, DeakinTalent etc. are remarkably good. I have been fortunate to get so many amazing professional opportunities through these services.

In the first trimester, I wanted to join a marketing club at Deakin University, but there wasn’t one. After speaking with the course director, he suggested that I create one. Hence, I co-founded Delta Marketing Club Deakin (DMCD) and became the first president of DMCD. During my tenure as president, we organised several industry events and networking sessions for the club members. This was important to me because I understand that international students who are coming here for the first time may not have the same connections or know much about the Australian workplace.

With the Delta Marketing Club members

In the summer of 2018, I was successful in securing an internship with the Cultural Heritage Museum Studies at Deakin University. During my internship, I was given an incredible opportunity to present the Cultural Heritage Museum Studies’ 40^th anniversary media and communication plan in front of the advisory board. I believe that experience is one of the proudest moments of my life because I was given an opportunity to present my work in front of such highly qualified individuals. The whole experience gave me an amazing confidence boost which is already helping me in so many ways. I am very thankful to my internship supervisor for giving me this wonderful placement.

“Not only do our highly qualified teachers guide us regarding the theories of marketing, but they also link it to the practicality of it as well.”

I also secured an excellent digital marketing internship opportunity at Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ). It was indeed a ‘dream come true’ moment for me as ANZ is the number one institutional bank across Asia, Australia and New Zealand. My internship supervisor guided me through each step of my internship. I worked on several exciting projects. Undeniably, this internship is the best professional experience of my life so far, as I have learned so much from it. As it is such a huge organisation, the standards of professionalism, work ethics and working environment were also very high.

Within one year of my stay in Melbourne, the city has now indeed become a second home for me because of the welcoming and positive vibe of the city and its amazing people. One does not feel bored at all here because almost every day there is some kind of happening event going on in the city. By volunteering at these different events and festivals, I felt that it really helped me fit in and adjust to my new life here. I got to meet new people and spend time with them. They have been so welcoming so I never felt like I was an international student. Because of so many cultures living together with harmony in Melbourne, it has created an amazing buzz and feel in the city.

Now that I am in my final year of my Master of Marketing degree and gaining the relevant experience, I can confidently say that I have indeed found my passion and what I am good at – marketing. To all new students planning to come to Deakin University, I would advise you guys to choose a course which you are passionate about. Take every day as it comes, study hard but enjoy your life as well, and yes, dream big, because from my personal experience, I can say that if you want to dream and achieve big, Melbourne is the place to be! Deakin University is the place to be!

For further information about studying at Deakin and courses that relate to Marketing, visit our Business page.