A natural fit

I’ve always enjoyed puzzle solving – and been curious about the world around us – which drew me to STEM subjects at school. One of my earliest mentors was my father’s friend who was a very successful software engineer. He encouraged me to explore opportunities in this discipline.

It was the combination of these explorations, along with guidance from my teachers at school, that confirmed IT was the right path for me.

Peek into Monash life

I chose Monash because it’s renowned for its diverse double degree I’m from Vietnam and I wanted to continue living in the south-east for a bit too.

The most challenging parts of my course were the units ‘Introduction to Computer Science’ and ‘Algorithms and data structures’. I’ll never forget the sleepless nights trying to figure out the assignments. But once I’d completed the units, I felt so accomplished and proud of myself. Apart from that – and scouring the libraries for study spaces nearing exam time – everything else was manageable.

Monash has so many supportive services too. I participated in English Connect during my first year which improved my communication skills and consequently my confidence.

The right tools

I did my Industry-based Learning placement at EY in its Advanced Security Centre – and I'm still here after graduation!

Before the placement, I was interested in cybersecurity but only had minimal knowledge about  it. The placement allowed me to explore professional cybersecurity which fuelled my passion for it even more.

I found that the ‘IT professional practice’ unit came in super useful as it equipped me with soft skills which recruiters regard more highly than hard skills when you’re a newbie in the industry.

My biggest goal after graduation was to land a job that makes me excited to go to work everyday with a positive workplace culture. Due to the excellent quality of education I received with Monash, I’ve managed to achieve this goal even before I graduated!

Catching the club bug

The most exciting thing I’ve done at Monash is the ‘Monash Big Sleepover’ hosted by the Monash Non-Residential Colleges. I slept overnight at the Clayton campus (on cardboard and outside in the cold!) with other members from the non-residential colleges to collect money to buy backpack beds for the homeless.

I also participated in a student-run club called Robogals where I gained confidence and time management skills by learning to juggle between different commitments. Further, I joined the BorrowCup technology team, where I developed hard IT and project management skills.

I highly encourage everyone to join a student club because it’s a great way to make friends. I also recommended everyone run for a position as a committee member at some point. It’s a fantastic opportunity to step outside of your comfort zone and practise pitching yourself.

Best city in Australia

I have travelled all across Australia, but I still love Melbourne the most. The city has everything: from beautiful beaches to brilliant nightlife to amazing food culture.

Melbourne is also very multicultural. The city celebrates its diversity through events, performances and festivals throughout the year. The friendly atmosphere enables anyone to make friends quickly. Global networking is so important for young professionals, and I have met people from all over the world in Melbourne.

Pearls of wisdom for future students

IT is so popular now and there are so many domains in the IT industry, so try to expose yourself to as many different areas as you can! Meet and talk to industry experts. Practise self-reflection. These all help you decide on a career.

And remember, studying doesn't have to be dull or boring! ‘Work hard, play hard’ has always been my motto. Take a good amount of breaks to recharge yourself so you are up for the next challenge. Always try harder than you think you can!