🌏 Life as an International Student in Australia
Being an international student is both a rewarding and deeply challenging experience. It’s a journey filled with opportunity — but also one that demands grit, resilience, and sacrifice.
💸 Financial Struggles
The most significant challenge?
Tuition fees.
- International students in Australia pay almost 3x more than domestic or PR students.
- On top of that, we’re limited to working 24 hours per week (or 48 hours per fortnight), which makes it nearly impossible to cover all expenses without support.
Balancing university schedules, part-time work, and financial stress often leaves little room for rest or recreation.
You need to:
- Schedule your classes around your job (or vice versa)
- Make ends meet while managing assignments and exams
- Navigate public transport without a car
- Cook, clean, manage a home — often for the first time in your life
It’s not just a learning journey.
It’s a survival journey.
👨👩👧👦 The Power of Family
None of this would have been possible without the help of my extended family in Australia.
- My uncle Herry (my father’s best friend) and his family in Sydney supported me wholeheartedly — paying my initial fees, welcoming me into their home like a son, and being there whenever I needed help.
- Other uncles from my father’s friend circle also stepped in, forming a support network that made a world of difference.
Their kindness and generosity became the backbone of my journey.
🏡 Living Alone in Newcastle
When I moved to Newcastle, I began living alone for the first time.
At first, it felt amazing — total freedom:
- Eating what I want, when I want
- Watching shows till late night
- No one to check on me
But soon, I realized:
Living alone can be lonely.
I missed community. I missed people.
And that’s when I started finding my tribe.
📚 Academic Journey
I was always a strong student in school, but in Australia:
- I felt average — not because I lacked capability, but because I was juggling so much.
- Grades didn’t reflect my potential, because I was managing:
- Rent
- Work schedules
- Living alone
- Mental and physical exhaustion
Despite it all, I kept going.
And when I had time, I started learning Flutter on my own — a choice that changed the course of my career.
I began building real projects, applying concepts beyond theory, and gradually fell in love with mobile development.
I wasn’t just studying anymore.
I was building. I was growing. I was surviving — and thriving.
This journey has taught me that grades are not everything.
They don’t capture determination, creativity, or resilience.
But this journey, and the kindness that powered it, has made me who I am.
🕌 Finding Community at the Sikh Temple
Being raised in Amritsar, the spiritual heart of Sikhism, I’ve always had strong religious roots. In Newcastle, I began volunteering at the Sikh temple (Gurdwara), playing tabla during religious ceremonies.
- I’m now a regular volunteer at the temple.
- Despite my age, I’ve earned respect and acceptance from the community.
- This connection has given me emotional and spiritual support — a sense of belonging far from home.
❤️ What I’ve Learned
-
People matter more than anything.
Behind every challenge I overcame, there was a kind person offering a hand. -
Freedom without connection feels empty.
I learned that while independence is exciting, community is what sustains you. -
Kindness multiplies.
What my uncle and his family gave me, I now feel inspired to give to others someday.
This chapter of my life has made me stronger — but more importantly, it has made me more human.
I’m not just becoming a better software engineer.
I’m learning to be a better person.