The importance of good friends, self-expression, and a willingness to help.
Student Ambassador Duong Nguyen (Chloe) seems determined to sample every item on the UTS College/UTS menu. Having completed UTS Foundation Studies and a Diploma of IT at UTS College, she’s now in third year of a double degree (Bachelor of IT/Bachelor of Business) at UTS. “After finishing my bachelor's degree, I plan to do a master’s,” she says. “I think it will be related to IT but also relevant to business. Something like data analytics.”
A transformative experience
After completing her GCSE in Vietnam, Chloe chose UTS Foundation Studies as an alternative to completing her A levels at home*. She says, “It’s a pathway to UTS, and it saves some time, so I thought, ‘Why not?’ And I have a cousin who studied at UTS. He told me how practical and innovative it is.”
Her Foundation Studies experience stands out as a transformative time in her life. “That’s when I met my closest group of friends – the ones who’ve been on the same journey with me up until now. My best memories are from back then, exploring Sydney together, discovering hidden gems and sharing late night study sessions together,” she says.
A willingness to help
Chloe also remembers, when she’d only been in Sydney a month or two, noticing a group of student ambassadors in their distinctive red jackets. “They really caught my eye,” she says, “and I wondered who they could be. Then they came up to me, and they told me more about what they do. I thought it was pretty cool, and they were so helpful. They had tips about living as an international student in Sydney and how to do well in my course. It made me want to become one of them.”
Chloe wears her Student Ambassador jacket with pride.
As soon as she could, Chloe applied for the role. She says, “I had to write my first CV, and I asked one of my English teachers to be my reference. Even though I had no experience, the interview was quite chill. It’s more about who you are and how you express yourself. They were looking for a willingness to help people. I think that’s a key trait they want for a student ambassador. I think that’s what helped me get the job.”
A first paid job and a chance to grow
Being a student ambassador was Chloe’s first paid job, and it helped her grow in many ways. “It taught me a lot of important ‘soft skills’, like communication, teamwork, organising, and leadership. And I learnt how things work in the College, how events are organised and things like that.”
A workshop at the end of her Diploma of IT inspired the next step in Chloe’s study path: a double degree. “They showed us choices like Bachelor of IT, Bachelor of Computing Science, Bachelor of AI – lots of things,” she says. “But the Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of IT caught my eye because I’ve always wanted to do some business as well as IT. I thought it was a great opportunity.”
An inspirational role model
Chloe says her Mum has always inspired her career ambitions. “She’s my hero. She works in hospitality and she has sacrificed so much for me and my brothers. She did everything so I could go abroad and study Internationally, meet people and move out of my safe zone.”
Chloe's mother continues to inspire her.
Having a strong role model has also helped Chloe with some of the challenges women can face in an area like IT, where they’re often still a minority. “Even in this modern time, some men still think that women aren’t as good, that we’re not capable of doing things like coding or programming,” she says. “Sometimes I felt I had to prove myself, especially during teamwork, but eventually it’s okay because they see what I can do.”
She’s looking forward to joining some of the clubs and programs that support women in IT. “They’re very encouraging and I wish I could have joined earlier, but when I was at the College, I did an accelerated diploma, so I didn’t have a lot of extra time,” she says.
Always express your feelings
Chloe’s solid network of friends is still her main support when she’s facing the challenges of student life. She says, “When things get hard, when I’m feeling pressured about everything all at once, it’s so good to have a friend I can talk to. We can vent and share our struggles. We can study for exams together and talk about things like homesickness that some people might not understand. I think it’s important to express your emotions.”
Having a life outside of study is another way Chloe keeps stress at bay. “Other than work and study, I express myself making music. I play guitar and piano and I love to sing. I’d love to find a piano at UTS, but there is a public piano in the Queen Victoria Building. Sometimes I go up there and release my thoughts and emotions on the piano.”
Chloe says if she had just one piece of advice for new international students it would be to have the courage to step out of their comfort zone. “It’s what I say to every international student I meet that’s just arrived. You need to make friends,” she says. “So, you need to talk a lot, even if your English isn’t so good. That’s totally fine because nobody’s judging you here. And always reach out to other people if you need help because you don’t have to do everything on your own. We’re all here to learn.”
*Students like Chloe now have the option of studying their Cambridge A Levels as part of Cambridge International at UTS College.
Find out more about the Student Ambassador program>