Deakin Uni, My Uni

I open my eyes and I breathe deeply as I wake up. A myriad of images flash before my eyes and I become aware of the question I ask myself every day: Am I happy with my life? And the answer is always yes!

Why am I happy every day? There is no lack of reasons, but mainly because I am walking towards the version of myself I envision every night as I go to sleep. And my university studies are a decisive factor in this huge puzzle I call life. Undertaking a Bachelor of Biomedical Science is not an easy thing to do, even less when you are a perfectionist who wants to give his best in life every day. But it is certainly a stimulating and wonderful career, where I get the chance to learn about what I am most passionate about: us humans.

At Deakin I get the chance to tailor my course to suit my needs and – why not – my likes. Thus, I get to learn from physiology to microbiology, and from the basis of immunity to the intricacies of the human mind, a mixture I love very much, as it helps me understand the human body and mind in a holistic way, because that is what Deakin is really all about: holism. Many organisations out there have words such as holism and holistic in their mission statements, but I know of just a few that truly live up to those words, and Deakin is one of them. Here, academic studies are combined with real-world experience and an endless list of social events and opportunities to enjoy your time at uni, a perfect recipe involving actual care for students’ needs, first-class teaching and a joyful and flexible environment where you can be who you truly are, safely.

“A perfect recipe involving actual care for students’ needs, first-class teaching and a joyful and flexible environment where you can be who you truly are.”

I had the great opportunity to be accepted into Deakin’s Vice-Chancellor’s Professional Excellence Program. This is an experiential scheme focused on providing students with the right tools to develop themselves professionally and at a personal level: a like-minded network of people just looking to be the best version of themselves, and a supportive team dedicated to seeing us through that process. And that is what I love the most about Deakin: they are not expecting you to be the classic high-achieving student, but rather want you to express yourself as who you are. No matter how unconventional or seemingly impossible your dreams are, the staff are always ready to help you lay down the path to success.

These are difficult times when students have been forced to learn from home and lack access to the many resources that are usually offered on campus. I was dubious of what I might encounter as I began my online studies, but I can safely say that I have found it awe-inspiring the degree to which Deakin has managed to successfully move the whole of its services into the digital environment.

For this and much more, I am proud to call Deakin Uni, my Uni.