What our students did between semesters
Each July our students disperse across Australia and the globe, taking advantage of University-provided opportunities or their own intiative to make the most of their winter break. We asked some of our students what they got up to between semesters.
I launched a nanosatellite
Jordan Jolly and Sydney Uni teammates competed in the in North America.
Jordan Jolly, Bachelor of Engineering (Space)/ Bachelor of Arts V
鈥淥ur Sydney Uni team (consisting of Brian Lee and myself) designed and built an experimental nanosatellite which was placed and launched in a sounding rocket built by the University of Victoria, British Columbia. Being able to work and听launch rockets with so many people from different countries and universities was a great experience.鈥�
I played the piano in Verona
Josephine Flores Tan visited Venice as part of the
Josephine Flores Tan, Master of Master of Music Studies (Performance) II
鈥淚 was very fortunate to spend my university break in Italy, attending the Estivo European Chamber Music Summer School with the . It was such an amazing time and we had fantastic tutors from all over the world giving us masterclasses and tutorials. We also had free time most nights to explore Verona and a day trip to Venice!鈥�
I obtained some research experience at Westmead Hospital
Jason Luong spent time at Westmead Hospital as part of the
Jason Luong, Bachelor of Medical Sciences III
鈥淥ver the break I鈥檝e had the opportunity to work as a researcher at Westmead Hospital, supervised by , a hospital scientist researching the mechanisms of cardiovascular disease. I鈥檓 enrolled in the Faculty of Science鈥檚 Talented Student Program, which gives me the opportunity to undertake research projects as credited units of study.鈥�
I mentored Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander high school students
Chris O鈥橠onnell, (second from left) was a mentor for Compass' winter program.
Chris O鈥橠onnell, Bachelor of Arts III
鈥淏eing involved in the Wingara Mura-Bunga Barrabugu winter school was an extremely rewarding experience. It鈥檚 a privilege working with these inspiring and one day influential Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young men and women. They come together from various states and territories to achieve one collective goal: education.鈥�
听
I entered a meat judging competition
Melanie Smith with the the Sydney Uni team came second at the annual
Melanie Smith, PhD Candidate, Faculty of Veterinary Science
鈥淥ver the break I went to Wagga to coach a team from the in the annual Australian Intercollegiate Meat Judging Competition. The week was full of interesting seminars about the red meat industries and finished off with a careers expo and a competition in judging lamb, pork and beef carcasses. The Sydney Uni team had its most successful year at the competition and were overall runners up!鈥�
I interned at the Sydney Morning Herald
Swetha Das got some industry experience as an intern journalist.
Swetha Das, Bachelor of Arts (Media and Communications) III
鈥淭his semester break I had the opportunity to intern听at Fairfax Media.听 I was able to write on a range of topics such as听mental health for听young people, federal politics (I was there during the elections, it was beautiful) and consumer affairs. I've never learnt so much, so quickly.鈥�
I studied women鈥檚 rights in Indonesia
Ciaan Perera studied in Jakarta with a group from the .
Ciaan Perera, Bachelor of Commerce (Liberal Studies) IV
鈥淒uring my holiday, I looked at the work being done to and reduce the gender differences in Indonesia. I stayed for one week in Jakarta with a group from the Sydney Southeast Asia Centre to get an overview of the issues听and then we travelled onto Sulawesi and undertook more focused research placements with NGOs.鈥�
I rode the world鈥檚 scariest rollercoaster
Emily Sears was one of 20 Master of Management students studying in China.
Emily Sears, Master of Management
"During the break 20 Master of Management students听have听been听completing their Business in China unit of study in听China.听It has been a non-stop week so far, jam-packed with government meetings, classes, university visits, shopping and a VIP tour of Dinosaur Land including Dinoconda - the 4D roller coaster that has been described as one of the scariest in the world.鈥�
I volunteered in Cambodia
Callum Ryan mentored students from his old high school on a humanitarian trip to Cambodia.
Callum Ryan, Bachelor of Commerce/ Bachelor of Arts V
鈥淒uring the winter break I spent 3 weeks on a humanitarian immersion in Cambodia, with a group of current students from my old high school. It was a great way to develop a renewed听appreciation of life in Australia, and gave me a chance to 'reset' between the stress of university听semesters while making a tangible difference to the Khmer people.鈥�
I worked with a former astronaut
Nikita Sardesai (centre) helped high school kids program satellites on the International Space Station for .
Nikita Sardesai,听Bachelor of Engineering (Aerospace)/ Bachelor of Science (Physics/ Maths), V
鈥淚 spent my holidays helping kids to program satellites on the International Space Station. As part of Zero Robotics I worked with high school students in a programming competition managed though Sydney Uni's former NASA astronaut, Dr Greg Chamitoff. We were able to simulate two satellites taking photographs of an asteroid whilst avoiding solar flares."
I went home to Singapore
Lauren Gui (left) caught up with family and friends back home in Singapore.
Lauren Gui, Bachelor of Arts III
鈥淚 went back to Singapore and celebrated my 21st birthday听with family and close friends who have also returned from overseas studies. I鈥檓 also in the process of听writing a short film that my best friend and I are shooting independently, just for leisure.鈥�
Related articles
Ready, set, Rio: Sydney cohort heads to the Games
As more than 3.5 billion people around the world turn their sights towards Rio this week, 30 athletes from our community are getting ready to take their place on the globe鈥檚 biggest sporting stage.
Science student makes greatest self-discovery at the University
'Leave your comfort zone' is Kevin Gatdula鈥檚 motto in life. With an emphasis on continual personal development, the 20-year-old Bachelor of Commerce and Science student believes that this is the only way to cultivate a journey of personal growth.
Learning never stops - but it starts at Open Day
Like so many high school students in their final year, Denise Ong had a head full of questions.听Little did she know at the time that one question she asked would later lead to a major turning point in her story.