Christi - Oct 09

Last Updated on Monday, 02 November 2009 00:58 Written by Andrew Lai Monday, 02 November 2009 00:52

 It’s that time of year again; the end of the semester. I’m with the students, unsure as to where the time has gone and almost wishing that I could gain some of it back.

With a month left in the semester (and exams around the corner), the last week of classes is a great time to look back on the semester, while still having a solid month to fit in all those must do’s before heading back home. As an SSC I am blessed to interact and work with such amazing, talented and motivated people. I really enjoy my job and not just for the face to face aspect. I also like to budget, plan and run events and possibly my favourite one is the farewell dinner. Who doesn’t like to get dressed up, eat a wonderful displayed and tasty 3 course meal, while in the company of great friends? But it’s more then that.

Yes, it is a bit sad because it’s a reminder that everyone is only here for a specific amount of time and that the departure date is looming, but it’s also a really happy time as well. Seeing students personally grow and achieve new dreams and goals will never get boring for me. Hearing stories of travels, new experiences and success in a new and challenging environment inspires me. I think it’s essential that students take the time to reflect, to look back and remember how they felt when they stepped off that plane and embarked on this journey four months ago. Handing back the journey letters (a letter the student wrote to themselves) is a part of the farewell night, and for many it will bring them back to their very first day in Australia. And here they sit four months later having achieved something very special. It’s not easy to step out of your comfort zone and fly half way around the world to study and live in a different environment. Students who succeed and do well in their classes can be proud that they have adapted to new assessment, environments, learning methods, and material. They have made some amazing friends, gained confidence in themselves, become more self sufficient, independent, open-minded and of course learned more about their own culture because they have taken that step away from it..
And that is why I love the farewell event. It’s because it’s the students opportunity to recognize what they have achieved.

It’s also a lot of fun! As part of the evening, I put together a 20 minute slide show of pictures from the semester (from our IFSA events, their travels, to nights out with friends, etc). I couldn’t believe how awesome my groups were at sharing so many pictures.  So many in fact, that my poor computer couldn’t seem to handle it and repeatedly shut down, causing me to realize how little patience I have for technology. My poor neighbours as well, having to listen to just the start or ends of songs, in my attempts to edit them seamlessly with the pictures. At least it’s not an effort finding great Aussie bands like The Vines or Hilltop Hoods to accompany all the pics. All up, it’s great souvenir of the semester.  

I feel mixed emotions as the students leave. I’m sad to see them go, as they were such a wonderful group, but I’m proud of them as well and am happy to have been a part of their experience. And I know that it doesn’t stop here; it’s just the close of another chapter.

Christi October
 

Comments

Name *
Code   

Submit Comment