Meghan Donnelly

Last Updated on Wednesday, 24 February 2010 04:11 Written by Andrew Lai Thursday, 10 September 2009 05:08

Travelling?

Are you someone who never really thought of travelling abroad? It’s not just the travellers who study abroad. Meghan never thought this, until her college swimming captain started raving about his experience. The travel abroad experience is something that everyone can enjoy, and, in Meghan’s words, “You can be whoever you want to be”

Meghan at University of Sydney

• Home University: Connecticut College

• Why did you choose to come to Australia and study?  I wanted a change in my pace of life, I have never travelled out of the country and have always wanted to visit Australia. Aussies seem to be an interesting combination of laid back and successful, work hard and play seems a great option to me.
  
  I didn’t want to study abroad until one of the captains on my swim team did so and stayed at the Sydney University Village, he came home and could not stop raving about it. Out of my friends I was the one who was happy and content at home, even then I realised that studying abroad would benefit me the most, both in terms of travel and studying.

• Why did you choose the University of Sydney?  I looked at other universities University of Queensland & University of Melbourne. I’m not usually a city girl as my college only has 2,000 students. But Sydney has lots to do, the beaches are great and it’s very clean city. To be honest I was very nervous and worried about coming out but I have changed lots, I'm still same me but I’ve become more adventurous and open to trying new things. Nobody knows me so I had a clean slate with my new Australian and American friends.

• What’s your favourite subject? Learning in outdoor education. It made me more confident and comfortable outdoors, as part of a group outdoors we challenged each other to do things we would never normally consider, we climbed 1,500 stairs on our last day in and around the Blue Mountains. I was terrified of bugs - but I’m not now. It was mentally and physically challenging and because I took those challenges I was able to learn about myself.

• USA Degree: Psychology and Human Development

About Meghan

• Personal Interests: Competition swimming, beach & outdoors (now)

• Last CD you bought?  Taylor Swift

• Last movie you saw? The Hangover

• Last meal you bought? Chicken Pad Thai, Newtown Thai and it was only $6!

• What do you do to relax? Swim, sleep

• If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? Greece and Italy and Aruba

• What’s the funniest moment you have had so far?  We were hiking in the Blue Mountains and our lecturer told us a scary / funny story but he never told us the ending, the people I was looking after were actually scared, while I was laughing.

• Where have you previously travelled? East coast of America, I’m off to Cairns (QLD) for the spring break.

• What will you remember about being in Australia? Definitely the people, everyone is welcoming and I love the clubs and beaches. It was awesome to go hiking to Blue Mountains and the Royal National Park and the Aussie accents aren’t bad either!

• Any advice to students who are thinking about coming out? Explore and widen your horizons, welcome the people and the customs, definitely come with no preconceptions and you can be whoever you want to be.

• What’s the most interesting cultural difference so far? The locals actually go out a lot more at night and yet they will get up for class the next day. It’s certainly less cliquey here and everyone is accepted.       

Classes

Personality and differential psychology

PSYC2014 is made up of two conceptual components: Theories of Personality and Differential Psychology (Individual Differences). The aim of the Personality component is to introduce students to a number of influential theories of personality. Students will be exposed to some conceptual analysis and expected to examine critically the various theories covered. The aim of the Differential Psychology component is to introduce key topics in the study and assessment of individual differences in personality and intelligence. Students are expected to gain an understanding about the major theories of intelligence, associated research methods, and the traditional areas of group differences.
More Information: PSYC2014

Intimacy, love and friendship

This unit examines the representation and practices of intimate relations focusing especially on the intersection between intimacy and the constructions of gender. Divided into three sections, the unit will examine theories of love and friendship, contemporary cultural representations of love, desire and friendship (especially in film and literature), and the ethics and politics of erotics. It will question the division between erotic love and Platonic love, examine the new technologies of erotics, and discuss the implications for gender and sexuality.
More information: GCST2610

Learning in Outdoor Education

Learning in Outdoor Education examines contemporary theories of learning with a focus on experience and engagement of the body in learning about and within natural environments. In particular, it highlights the differences between learning about the natural environment in the classroom or lecture theatre and the depth and range of interrelated social, cognitive, physical and affective learning that is possible in it. Students will learn about places of natural significance and theories of experiential learning in lectures which is followed by first hand experiences of the places being studied through a two-day field trip and a three-day field trip in uniquely Australian landscapes within NSW. While this unit of study will develop student knowledge and understanding of specific areas of natural significance in NSW it focuses on the nature of learning that takes place through first hand experiences of them. Through this approach students will come to understand and know these places through two different modes of learning that they analyse through the application of educational learning theory.
More information: EDUH4052

Sydney University Internship

The program runs for 15 days throughout the semester. As part of the program, students must write a reflective journal during the internship and a 2,500 essay on completion of the program. They must also complete a series of professional development workshops which provide information of the Australian workplace, Australian business etiquette, communication skills and networking and mentoring. These workshops are what helps to set apart the experience of Internships over and above any subject

“I get to work with Australians, to learn more about their routines. It’s really flexible and allows me to do the placement in a time that suits my university lectures.  I’m looking to get more internships before Grad School and now I can study abroad and do an internship” Meghan Donnelly
More information