Since her high school days in Indonesia, Olivia Lim dreamed of studying Information Technology. When the idea of cybersecurity captured her imagination, she asked her education agent for advice. “They suggested starting with a Diploma of Information Technology from UTS College. UTS was my dream,” she says. “I’d heard that it’s one of the best schools in Australia, especially for technology. I chose UTS College because I wanted help adapting to the change from high school to uni. I wanted to see whether university was right for me.” Olivia also wanted a chance to improve her English. She says, “In my home country I didn’t use English at all, so UTS College gave me good practice. Outside the course material, I made a lot of friends who spoke different languages and we all spoke together in English.”
Discovering a new way of learning
Olivia says the College helped her meet the challenges of learning in a new country. “It was totally different from my high school. But I soon found UTS College was better for me. I learnt to manage my time and be more independent,” she says. The UTS College style of learning, called Learning.connected, made an even bigger difference. “The most important thing was the way we needed to read our pre-tutorial work, so we could understand more in our classes. I think the pre-tutorial work is a key to your success.”
Throughout her diploma, Olivia also enjoyed participating in group work. She says, “I learnt that communication is very important when you’re trying to achieve a goal together. We would schedule every week to stay connected. And even when you’re trying to achieve the same thing, sometimes there can be a conflict. It’s normal to have different opinions. But I realised that when we see a different perspective, we can learn from it. I’ve gained more understanding through teamwork.”
Because she took an accelerated program, Olivia was busy throughout her diploma, but she still appreciated the opportunities reflect on her work. “It was good for testing my understanding, especially the weekly quizzes,” she says. “And I have much more confidence with English now. Being in an English-speaking environment is great motivation.”
Valuable practical skills
Of the skills that relate to her chosen degree, she says programming was the most valuable to her. “I never had basic coding before I came to UTS College. I struggled with it at first, but my teachers explained it very well. And I noticed I wasn’t alone. Other students had to learn it too. We struggled together, and I remember thinking, ‘After three months, I can understand computing language!’ I could even create my own website. That was really impressive for me.”
If Olivia has one piece of advice for other international students, it’s to always speak up. “Don’t be shy. The teachers at UTS College will always help you and welcome you. And never give up. If you find something is difficult, it’s always okay to take a break – even just 30 minutes. The next day, just try again.”
Outstanding achievement
Her consistent effort certainly paid off. Olivia is the winner of a UTS College Outstanding Graduate Prize – a generous cash award for the student with the highest Grade-Point Average (GPA) in their diploma group. “It was a surprise. I didn’t even know this prize existed,” she says. “I feel happy and honoured.”
When she got the news, the first people Olivia called were her parents in Indonesia. She says, “My family inspires me – especially my dad. He always supports me, no matter what I do. I know how he worked and sacrificed so I could study. When I think about it, I want to cry because I’m so grateful.”
Fast-track to second-year
Olivia is living her dream now. On completing her diploma, she was fast-tracked to second year of Bachelor of Information Technology at UTS, with majors in networking and cybersecurity. “I feel a little nervous,” she says, “because I know it’s a little different from UTS College. It’s much bigger. But I’ve learnt that if you’re ready to communicate – if you say ‘hi’ first to other people, things usually go well. And I’ve already met people during O-Week. It’s good for networking and socialising.”
Volunteering for success
Having enriched her experience at UTS College with volunteer roles, such as being a peer helper, Olivia is now looking for volunteer opportunities at UTS. She says, “I’ve already registered for UTS Build (a global leadership program), and I’ve signed up as a ‘Lenny’s Mates’ volunteer with ActivateUTS. I also want to register for the Lucy Mentoring Program (which connects women and gender diverse people studying technology at UTS to industry professionals).
Olivia’s planning a trip home this year, to visit her parents, and also wants to explore more of Australia. “So far I’ve seen the Snowy Mountains,” she says. “It was my first time to see snow and learn to ski. I look forward to seeing more places. I enjoy travelling, but I think UTS is my favourite place in Sydney. I love UTS library. The architecture is so beautiful.”
Find out more about the Diploma of IT>