🛣️🏎️Student Stories - From Landing Alone to Leading with Purpose: Maverick's Uni Life in Sydney

Despite only being in his second year of undergraduate studies, Maverick has lived through more than most students would experience in an entire degree. Arriving alone in a foreign country, he not only adjusted quickly to a new life in Sydney, but actively sought challenges that would test and shape his character. From accumulating over 500 hours of volunteering, to interning in product management, to engaging deeply with diverse communities, Maverick's story is one of remarkable maturity, vision, and purpose. He doesn’t see his studies as a checklist of academic tasks, but as a transformative journey for discovering who he is and what kind of impact he wants to make. He is evidence that true growth happens when ambition meets reflection.

🧑‍🎓 About Maverick

Name: Maverick
University: University of New South Wales (UNSW)
Degree: Bachelor of Computer Science (currently in his 3rd term in Year 2)
Time in Sydney: 2 years

Let’s begin Maverick’s journey: not just across continents, but into independence, self-discovery, and purpose.

First Impression & Early Challenges

When Maverick boarded a plane from China to Australia two years ago, he was excited, nervous, and determined. “I’ve always liked adapting to new environments,” he reflects, “but that didn’t make leaving my friends and family behind any easier.” The journey marked the start of his Bachelor of Computer Science at the University of New South Wales, and also his first time living abroad, entirely on his own.

His first impression of Australia was mixed. “I landed in winter, and I remember thinking, ‘Where are the skyscrapers?’ It felt like the countryside,” he laughs. “At first, I couldn’t understand how this could be called a developed country.” But as he spent more time in Sydney, his perspective evolved: “Maybe development here means having enough. People aren’t chasing material upgrades: they’re content. That’s a kind of happiness too.”

The early months weren’t easy. With no local contacts and all logistics: housing, transit, groceries, left to himself, Maverick was tested in self-reliance. When asked, “What was the most impressive challenge you faced after arriving in Australia?”, Maverick didn’t hesitate.

“That first night really caught me off guard. I landed in the afternoon, got to my student apartment, and after settling in, it was already dark. I told my roommate I wanted to grab some groceries and he said the supermarkets were all closed. I was shocked. ‘What am I going to eat?’ I thought.”

His Italian roommate, an exchange student who only stayed for one semester, ended up cooking him pasta that night. “He became my first real friend here. Later, I learned to make several Italian dishes from him, and I taught him how to cook Chinese food. We’re still in touch today.” Reflecting on this, he said:

“My first challenge was building connections with others on my own”

These early months weren’t just about adjusting to a new environment, they were about Maverick starting to understand the world, and his place in it, with new eyes.

Immersing in Language and Work

Like many international students, Maverick was asked: “Was language a major barrier for you when you first arrived?”

His answer was unexpected. “Not really in day-to-day life,” he says. “But I actively put myself in situations to improve my English. I wanted to be in an English-speaking environment as much as possible.”

Rather than taking the safer route of a campus job or working within a Chinese-speaking setting, Maverick deliberately sought out a part-time role that would stretch his communication skills.

“I didn’t want a job where I could stay comfortable. I wanted to throw myself into a native English environment and a real-world one.”

He landed a position at a top-tier automotive modification workshop in Sydney. “It was a custom automation shop,” he explains. “Most of our clients were local car enthusiasts. I’ve always loved cars, so I already knew a bit about wiring systems, firmware versions, and brand-specific specs. But the real test was explaining things clearly, negotiating expectations, and dealing with issues under pressure.”

The job wasn’t without challenges. “Sometimes things don't go to plan. I remember once we thought a job would take two hours, it ended up taking ten. When something like that happens, your communication, emotional control, and problem-solving are all tested at the same time.”

This immersive, trial-by-fire experience helped Maverick grow fast: not just as a speaker of English, but as someone capable of handling responsibility in unfamiliar, high-pressure settings. But growth didn’t stop at the workshop.

Finding Purpose in Community

After his Italian roommate became his first friend in Sydney, Maverick quickly realized that personal growth would take more than just adapting to a new environment, it would require building meaningful connections. When asked if he had joined any student clubs or social groups beyond work and study, he was quick to draw a connection between community and long-term development.

“Joining a high-quality community is essential for personal growth, whether you want to start a business or just broaden your perspective. One person’s thinking can be limited, but in a good community, ideas evolve through exchange. It becomes a space for learning.”

Maverick speaks from experience. Over the past two years, he has immersed himself in a range of communities: academic, technical, civic, and global. He has completed six internships, participated in international conferences like the 2024 Tencent TVP Summit, and joined multiple student and innovation networks. He currently serves as the Student Ambassador for Deloitte Asia Pacific and also a member of the City of Sydney’s International Student Leadership and Ambassador (ISLA) program.

But what shaped him most, he says, were his volunteer experiences: over 500 hours of frontline service across a variety of settings. One of the most memorable was his ongoing work with NUAA, a public health organization that provides harm-reduction support at large-scale music festivals. Through this program, Maverick was trained to patrol events as a "rover" and support team, assisting anyone in distress due to substance use, dehydration, or other health issues.

“These events could have 20,000 to 25,000 people,” he explains. “We were the bridge between the crowd and the emergency professionals: there to provide care, free resources, and education without judgment.”

Maverick was especially struck by the diversity of volunteers around him. “There were doctors, lawyers, personal trainers, university students, even former drug users who had turned their lives around. I realized that people from all walks of life were willing to give their time, energy, and empathy to help others. That inspired me.”

“Sure, I could have spent that time making money with a part-time job,” he reflects, “but doing this gave me something deeper. We truly helped people. We saved people.”

This sense of purpose continues to drive Maverick’s involvement in every community he joins. Whether it’s mentoring, innovating, or simply listening, he’s not just looking to participate, he’s looking to make it matter.

Growing Through Exposure: Skills, Reflections, and Priorities

As Maverick’s community involvement deepened, so did his understanding of what it means to grow: not just as a student, but as a person navigating a complex world. Beyond the technical knowledge he gained from internships or the hands-on experience from volunteering, what stood out were the soft skills: emotional regulation, intercultural communication, first aid, and a newfound capacity for reflection.

Learning from Difference

Being surrounded by people from all walks of life in Sydney taught Maverick to see beyond the assumptions shaped by his upbringing. Even in areas with a strong Chinese presence, such as Burwood, he found diversity in experiences and values. “Back home, most people in your high school or university would have come from the same region or background,” he explains. “But in Sydney, you meet people who grew up in completely different worlds. You share stories, compare dreams, and begin to reflect on your own perspective.” This kind of exposure changed how he viewed education and life in general.

“Whether in university or in the workforce, the goal is to uncover more of the truth about society. That, to me, is the real meaning of education.”

Maverick also values his involvement in “vertical” communities: groups united by specific interests or missions. Over time, these experiences subtly shaped his way of thinking, even when he couldn’t pinpoint it right away. “You might keep wondering, ‘What’s the point of this project? Does this event have any real value?’ And maybe, at that moment, it doesn’t feel significant. But over time, the influence of your earlier choices becomes internalized. Eventually, they show up in every decision you make—even if you don’t realize it at the time.”

Mastering Priorities: Time as a Strategic Tool

Of course, juggling study, internships, and service was no easy task. When asked how he manages to do so much, Maverick attributes it to skills he first picked up during his very first internship as an IT project manager. “That role taught me how to prioritize,” he says.

“You need to break things down: what comes first, what can wait, and how to judge what’s truly important.”

This project management mindset didn’t just help in his professional life, it bled into everything. He learned to say no to certain social invitations, reflect on which commitments aligned with his goals, and choose activities that contributed to both his personal and emotional wellbeing. “Some people take on activities just to fill time or escape boredom, but that can end up draining you. It’s more important to find what genuinely suits your pace and purpose.”

A Quickfire Scenario
To illustrate his decision-making in action, we gave Maverick a hypothetical:
If you had to choose between attending a valuable academic conference and participating in a flexible day of your internship project, both optional, both potentially useful, which would you choose?

He responded without hesitation:
 “I’d first ask, which one has an immediate consequence? If skipping the internship day would slow down progress or affect outcomes, I’d go to that. The conference might help long-term, but relationships with professors or learning insights usually take more time to develop. Urgency matters.”

That, in a nutshell, is how Maverick approaches opportunity: not by doing everything, but by asking what matters most right now, and what aligns with his direction in the long run.

Growth Beyond Grades & Perfectionism

After learning to manage time, prioritize goals, and stay anchored in communities that mattered to him, Maverick also reflected on education, failure and what it means to grow abroad. His experience has made him question traditional models of success. While many students arrive in Australia focused primarily on academic performance, Maverick believes education should be measured by something more than grades.

“When I think about the difference between education here and back home,” he explains, “I don’t think university should be about shaping everyone into the same kind of student, evaluated by a single set of standards.” He’s inspired by models of success where creativity, character, and independent thinking are central and students are encouraged to explore, challenge themselves, and define their own path.

“Education isn’t just about knowledge, it’s about who you become. It gives you the space to figure out what you care about, and how to grow in that direction.”

In a world where lectures are recorded online and technical knowledge is increasingly accessible, Maverick believes that the true value of university lies in the people you meet, the communities you join, and the person you become through those interactions.

Embracing Imperfection

With so many activities, internships, and challenges under his belt, it would be easy to mistake Maverick for someone who never doubts himself. But in truth, he regularly reflects on the setbacks and uncertainties that have shaped him.

“I have a lot to improve,” he says honestly. “Before coming here, some of my classmates used to think of themselves as top students, who were always praised and considered ‘model students.’ But over time, we realize that being outstanding at one stage doesn’t guarantee success later.” That realization, though humbling, has also freed him from perfectionism.

“You don’t need to have it all figured out at one specific moment. Not being the best right now doesn’t mean you won’t find your own direction. The important thing is to keep learning and stay humble.”

He sees failure not as a mark of inadequacy, but as preparation for the high-stakes world of business and leadership. “When something doesn’t go the way you expect like a group project falling short, or a competition result that disappoints, it stings. But it’s better to face that now than to mess up later when the consequences are bigger.” What anchors him is his mindset: always being surrounded by people he can learn from, never assuming he knows it all, and always willing to start again.

Words to Freshmen

Maverick’s biggest takeaway for new international students isn’t about chasing achievements. It’s about knowing what truly matters to you.

“Don’t just blindly chase ‘grades’ or ‘experiences’: build a foundation, understand your values, and grow in a direction that feels right for you.”

He doesn’t believe in prescribing one formula for success. Instead, he emphasizes clarity, self-awareness, and balance.“I wouldn’t tell students, ‘You must join clubs’ or ‘You have to study nonstop.’ Those are just one of the methods. What really matters is staying on the right track. By that I mean, keep your studies in order, take care of your health, and then start thinking carefully about your future goals.”

Maverick understands that every student has different motivations and timelines. “Some people just want to complete their degree and return home, where plans are already in place. Others are hoping to stay longer to explore new paths. Either way, it is important to be clear about what you’re working toward.”

In the end, Maverick's experiences in finding purpose comes not just from studying, but also from listening and learning from others and being willing to evolve as he navigates through his international student journey.