Tell us a little bit about yourself and your achievements to date
I’m an Indonesian-born Australian and moved to Melbourne when I was four. Since then, I’ve been part of the VCE Season of Excellence 2019, exhibiting my work ‘seed’ in the Melbourne Museum as part of Top Designs. I was the first student from my high school to be selected for any exhibition in the Season. In 2020 I’m rehearsing to play Heather Duke in DIY Collective’s Heathers: The Musical, which is so exciting!
What are your goals for the future?
I’m currently studying a Bachelor of Science and Arts at Monash University with majors in pharmacology and linguistics. I hope to continue on to study a Doctor of Medicine or Veterinary Medicine using my science degree or research in the field of sociolinguistics – preferably studying in Melbourne!
Why are you excited about being a Study Melbourne Student Ambassador?
I love writing food reviews and about my experiences. I feel that as a long-term resident and domestic student, I can showcase Melbourne’s variety and vibrancy. It can be scary studying in another country, as I’ve experienced before, but I’ve gained great insights from my travels. If you want to learn, Melbourne has a lot to teach you!
What are your tips for students who have just arrived in Melbourne?
- Get a Myki and set ‘auto top-up’ on. The public transport network is your key to finding your new favourite places! The auto top-up feature is extremely convenient, and you never have to line up for a Myki machine.
- Comfortable walking shoes are a must. Melbourne city is very walkable and there is so much to see on a stroll. The rest of Victoria has amazing greenery and hiking trails which are not to be missed.
- Get hungry and try everything. There’s so much beautiful food here from every corner of the globe and us Melburnians are spoilt for choice!
What are your suggestions for students who want to experience Melbourne’s food scene but don’t know where to start?
Melbourne’s cafes are a must-visit. Find your local one, order a smashed avo on toast (it’s definitely going to be on the menu) or maybe an eggs benny (benedict). Eat a woodfired pizza for dinner at DOC Pizza and for lunch the next day, or a falafel plate at Very Good Falafel in Brunswick (which definitely lives up to its name).
This lovely place is a bit out of the way but the Sunny Ridge Strawberry Farm in Red Hill allows you to pick and take home beautifully fresh strawberries, and also enjoy strawberry desserts in their on-site café.