Student Ambassador Ramya has been fascinated by the human heart since she was a child. “I remember drawing a little stethoscope and a heart when I was in pre-school,” she says. “I really want to be a heart surgeon. Open-heart surgery helped my grandfather live much longer. He passed away a few years ago, and it really hit me then that this is what I want to do.”
Ramya has many fond memories of her grandfather. She says, “When I was little, he’d let me play on his scooter and he taught me how to meditate. I remember he used to buy me little chocolates and little pastries. And he’s the one who started me thinking about medicine. He was always saying, ‘doctors do this, and doctors do that…’”
A different way to do first year
Having just completed Advanced Science (Pre-Medicine) at UTS, Ramya began her studies with a Diploma of Science at UTS College. She says, “I wanted UTS, because I wanted the opportunity to study Pre-Med, but Advanced Science required a 95 ATAR. I didn’t know what to do – I had no clue after high school. But my best friend told me about UTS College. It turned out to be the best thing I could possibly do. I think it’s really just a different way to do first year. We learned the same content, and you get straight into second year of the degree. It was perfect.”
Ramya enjoyed the smaller environment at the College. “The atmosphere was so friendly,” she says. “I didn’t expect to have a strong circle of friends in my first year, but making friends at the College is my favourite memory. After every lab class, we’d all get together and go to UTS food court for chips. Every time. That three-hour lab is very full-on, so I always looked forward to that.”
Ramya enjoyed catching up with friends after long sessions in the lab
A rather spectacular entrance when she started may have helped Ramya make herself known to everyone. “You know how there are two different stairways to go up in Building 5? I tripped down them straight away. That was how I introduced myself,” she laughs.
A learning and leadership opportunity
The College also introduced Ramya to the Student Ambassador program. She says, “One of my tutors, Tony Chen, recommended looking into it. He approached me when I finished my course and said, ‘This would be really rewarding for you. You get work experience, and you meet lots of people.’”
Ramya had always been interested in leadership. “I was sports captain and a dance leader at school, and also part of the Student Representative Council. I’ve taught dance too,” she says. “So, I went online and looked at a video on how the program works and I knew it was for me.”
Her first event as an ambassador was an information evening. That’s when Ramya knew she was meant for the role. “I was like, wow! Parents come and sometimes you can see they’re so worried about their kids. I look at them and I love the fact that I can give them some confidence about UTS College,” she says.
She also sees being a Student Ambassador as a great learning opportunity. “You meet people and see different cultures. I get to hear international students explain what their life is like and what they do. It’s the same when I hear about what people want to do. I’ve only ever thought about science, but now students tell me about things like 3D printing. I haven’t done that since Year Six! I learn so much from a five-minute meeting. I like that you can really help students and their parents as well. We share a lot of things on social media – tell them where there’s a good place to eat, or where they can get a student discount. It’s a lot of fun.”
Overall, she sees her ambassador role as a way to make a positive difference. “I’d like to make a comfortable space for everyone. I want to be the person who helps make students more confident. I want all student ambassadors to be that person. It can be hard to adapt to a new environment.”
Balancing Bollywood, K-Pop and part-time work
In addition to the demands of her degree and her responsibilities as a Student Ambassador, Ramya packed plenty into student life. She says, “I’ve been doing Bollywood dance for a few years now. My Mum saw me watching it on TV one day. I was dancing along and she said, ‘You should come to class with me.’ Eventually I started to teach in a studio one night a week. Most of the people who came were Indian background, but there were a few European and Brazilian people. It’s so interesting when other cultures pop in. I don’t teach dance at the moment, but I do work out at the gym.”
Ramya also enjoys exploring different cultures. “At uni was part of the dance club, the party club, and the K-Pop club (I love watching Korean dramas and I listen to Korean music sometimes – my best friend is into K-Pop).”
Having a wide range of interests is important to Ramya, and she likes to encourage others to do the same. “I think you should explore more than what the uni gives you. It’s great, but don’t stop there. Use YouTube, look up Ted Talks or sites like Crash Course or Khan Academy. Don’t limit yourself to your course material. And get perspectives from other people. It’s really important to talk to people,” she says.
With her degree behind her, Ramya’s planning some exploration of her own. “I really want to go on a world tour for my 21st birthday,” she says. “I want to see other people’s cultures, what they do, what they eat. I think I’m an adventurer at heart.”
Find out more about the Student Ambassador program>