Student stories
Working in IT and proud to call Darwin home
Chao arrived in Darwin from China to study Master of Information Technology (IT), Software Engineering. His experience of studying and living in Darwin has been wonderful.
Chao is now working in IT and is grateful to CDU for helping him on his journey.
“It’s been quite a journey from being a graduate to working in the IT industry, but I received tonnes of help from the lecturers at CDU and was offered an internship at the IT Code Fair.”
IT Code Fair
Chao strongly encourages all students to attend the IT Code Fair.
“The IT code fair is awesome,” he says.
“It’s not just a coding competition, there are also business, cybersecurity, post and research challenges. After the challenges and competitions, there’s a section called ‘speed dating’ where every student gets two minutes to meet each of the company managers.”
Many students get offered job opportunities and internships at the IT Code fair.
Getting the right balance
When Chao arrived in Darwin, he sought a better work-life balance. He’s been successful in finding this.
“I chose here because I wanted to do things I enjoyed after a day of study or work,” he says. “It’s great because I’m able to finish work and go to the gym or just head to the beach with some of my friends for a barbeque.”
Chao feels that this has been good for his overall wellbeing.
“Being able to get to the gym, I can feel that my physical and mental health is improving,” he says. “When I feel stressed, I workout for an hour, and it gives me a much calmer mind.”
Living the Darwin life
Chao loves living in Darwin and recommends it to all international students.
“Darwin is a great place to live,” he says “It’s friendlier than the bigger, busier cities where people don’t have so much time to care about others.
In those cities, it can be hard to make friends, but in Darwin, it’s easy. You can talk to everyone from neighbours to classmates, and lecturers are always willing to help and be friends with you too. It’s fantastic.”
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