After the HSC, Terez Arabo wasn’t sure university was for her. “During Year-12, I wasn’t really pushing myself,” she says. “I knew I wasn’t going to get a 99.8 ATAR, and I just had a lot of personal stuff going on.”
Terez survived unique challenges on her road to the HSC. These experiences speak volumes about her grit and determination. “My family came here from Iraq when I was nine years old,” she says. “I remember it was the middle of the year. I had to go straight into primary school, and I didn’t know a word of English. The other kids bullied and teased me. They were just kids, but it was challenging.”
A new life and a new language
Looking back on those times, Terez is proud of her family’s resilience. “My parents are an inspiration. We’re a big family and they had to look after all of us until we grew up. We came here with nothing and slowly built our lives,” she says.
The schoolyard teasing made her a little shy, but Terez didn’t let it hold her back. She says, “I just kept learning English. All through high school I was still learning the language. I’m still learning new words. I want to learn everything I can.”
With a love of art and design, Terez had her sights on a creative career even in high school.
She says, “I considered taking a gap year, but my parents weren’t keen on that, so I looked around for my options. I knew I wanted to work in the creative industries, and I always really wanted to study design at UTS. I had offers from other unis – one even sent me two different offers – but they weren’t what I wanted. And I didn’t feel ready to jump straight into a bachelor’s degree.”
Finding her direction
While exploring her options, Terez heard about UTS College. “My sister’s friend did the Diploma of Architecture and Design,” she says. “I thought it would be a great course for me because it branches out into so many different areas. It looked like a more seamless transition from high school, and I’d have more time to decide on my bachelor’s.”
Terez had found her next step. “Design at the College is very different from high school. We were learning new software and everything; how to think like a professional. It was so interesting,” she says. Being on the UTS campus made a difference too. “I wanted to get away from the suburbs, and the campus is in the heart of the city.”
A sense of belonging
UTS College has also helped Terez conquer her shyness and find a sense of belonging. From the first information evening she attended, she set her sights on becoming a Student Ambassador. “They were so nice and helpful,” she says. “I thought what they do is really cool.”
She began by working as a Peer Mentor, helping new international students settle in academically and socially. “I definitely get how it feels coming to a new country and not knowing the language or how things work. I’ve been there. I’ve done that,” she says.
Terez’s Peer Mentoring managers saw her potential and recommended her for the Student Ambassador program. “I think getting the student ambassador role was the biggest moment in my UTS College journey,” she says. “It was the goal I set when I started. And getting that red jacket, the uniform, that made it official. It was so cool. I mean, you could say I had a rough start when I came to Australia, and I had my struggles at high school, but now I had this happy moment – where I want to be.”
An affinity with artists
Having completed her diploma, Terez is now at UTS. She says, “I’m doing interior architecture and I find it fascinating. I really want to work in museums and art galleries, working with different kinds of artists and creators.”
Having successfully completed her diploma, Terez is now studying interior architecture at UTS.
A painter in her spare time (when she has any), Terez has a natural affinity with artists. “Painting is the best way for me to calm down and restart. It takes me to a different world – away from all the stress and all the things I have to do. I don’t get much time just now, but I still try to do it here and there,” she says. “I paint a lot of nature, things like the sunset, the moon, or plants and animals.”
One lesson Terez would like to share from her experience is the importance of stepping up. She says, “If you seriously search for it, you’ll find your pathway. Something will always work out in the end as long as you step out of your comfort zone. Take a deep breath and just go for it.”
Find out more about the student ambassador program