Being an International Student in Australia - Challenges and Opportunities - Personal Statement Example

About Me Name: Institution: About Me I was born and brought up in Kuwait. Throughout my life I have often had the desire to study information technology considering that it is one of the most interesting and lucrative professional field in the world today. This is largely associated with the fact that technology especially in the communication sector is often experiencing numerous changes and challenges and proper studies and qualifications in this sector will not only land me a good job opportunity it will also provide a platform for learning and experiencing different aspects of technology. I was born in t a family of six and I am the second born. In my family there are three ladies and three gentlemen all of whom are dedicated to their studies. In 2011, I took a leap of faith and began my academic journey in Australia. I was excited and very anxious to begin this journey considering that being an international student it is always difficult to be certain of what to expect in term of culture, and other challenges or surprises related to the life style in a foreign county. I consider the decision to study in Australia under scholarship as one of the most difficult decisions that I have ever taken. One of the most disturbing expectations was derived from the stories that I had heard about studying abroad. I was told that it would require a lot of hard work considering the challenges that are associated with the experiences of international students. Studying in a foreign country can present numerous opportunities as well as challenges to an international student. This is in consideration to the cultural challenges and benefits associated with studying in Australia. What I have experienced in Australia is beyond my expectation when perceived in a positive way. Since 2011 I have experienced not only a peaceful learning environment but also strong support from my teachers who have played a role in ensuring that the environment in my school is not only interactive but also supportive in my work. The application of different teaching methods was also of great assistance since these techniques made the classes interesting. During my time in Australia, I have had an opportunity to engage different IT experts in different forums and this has provided me with great insights concerning my IT profession. Other than the academic opportunities, my school has also been able to help me make use of extra-curricular activities such as different leadership programs. This has enabled me to develop an understanding and actively engage in numerous initiatives that will help me in using IT to improve livelihoods in my community. Studying in Australia has also presented numerous cultural challenges. In Kuwait people do not like talking in class, but prefer to remain silent unless asked questions by the teachers. In my country it is considered impolite to interrupt a teacher (Joseph & Najmabadi, 2006). In Australia the situation is relatively different considering that students have the ability to engage the teacher in critical discussions as a way of enhancing learning and understanding. Most foreign students were shocked at the method of learning in Australia however, he teachers and other students were dedicated to help us in overcoming the difficulties that we were experiencing especially on matters related to engagement in in-depth discussions during class hours. It was a way of improving on my interpersonal and communication skills. Religion is considered as a socio-cultural factor in Australia considering that the county is populated with a multiplicity of individuals who are engaged in different religious practices. In Australia there is freedom of worship and this allows liberalism in anything an individual chooses to worship. The situation is however different from my country which is largely Islamic. Most activities and practices in my country are conducted in accordance with the Islamic religion (Joseph & Najmabadi, 2006). In the beginning it was difficult to blend in a pluralistic society where most of the procedures are conducted in a secular manner considering the freedom of religion. However, I was able to overcome this culture shock with time and nowadays it has become a common phenomenon for me. Studying abroad is often associated with numerous perceptions especially in a foreign country. In 2011 when I first landed in Australia for my studies, there was some form of complications especially when it came to blending with other students. This complication arose from the fat that there were bullies who used the situation in my country to mock me. This was in the range of the levels of education. There were some children who claimed that the level of education in Kuwait was lower than that of Australia and this was explained by my preference for a school in Australia rather than Kuwait. Inasmuch as their allegations may have contained some degree of truth, it was inappropriate for the students in my school to make a mockery out of the situation in my country. There were friends who were able to help me overcome the stressful situations that the bullies were subjecting me to. Studying abroad is also often accompanied by the need to learn a new language (Ong, 2010). In Kuwait, the language get that is spoken is Arabic. A scholarship to go and study in Australia meant that I had an additional responsibility to learn English to facilitate the process of communication. English is relatively difficult for a fast learner with an Arabic accent in most cases it may be difficult to engage in an interactive conversation with an English speaker due to the complications related with the production of effective pronunciations of English terms. Through constant practice which was characterized by listening and reading English poems, music and stories I was able to grasp a few concepts. In addition, I practiced the language by engaging different English speakers in conversations as a w ay of indenting different areas of improvement. Currently I am able to speak correct English with a little Arabic accent. In addition, I can also write fluently. Despite the difficulties involved I am still learning with the hope of becoming a perfect English speaker. The field of Information Technology (IT) is considered as one of the most dynamic fields considering the changes that this industry has been experiencing since the beginning of the 21st century (Edwards, 2012). Australia is a developed country and this means that the country has to embrace high levels of technological infrastructure to ensure that it is competitive on the international platform (Edwards, 2012). The international platform is ruled by countries that are able to express the use and development of sophisticated technology in enhancing the economy, and security (Edwards, 2012). A strong ad technologically improved military is not only sufficient for the protection of the country’s borders but also provide confidence to investors on the safety of the country (Edwards, 2012). Australia was my country of choice to acquire knowledge on IT since it shares the cosmopolitan political system with Kuwait. It is therefore easier to introduce better technological infrastructure and ideas within the system. In Australia, the IT sector is relatively lucrative compared to Kuwait. After an in-depth study on this sector in Australia I realised that it contributes about $42 billion to the Australian GDP and every year the sector presents more growth opportunities (Edwards, 2012). The dedication shown by the Federal government of Australia was also a motivating factor on my desire to seek a scholarship to study in IT in this country as an international student (Edwards, 2012). The government spends millions of dollars to the improvement of IT infrastructures and facilities in learning institutions (Edwards, 2012). It is also possible to acquire more practical experience in the country considering that there are platforms to practice skills that individuals acquire in learning institutions. Despite the high level technology the Australia uses in most of its establishment, recent studies have indicated the possibility of skill shortage in the IT sector (Edwards, 2012). This has been facilitated by lack of well trained and experienced experts (Edwards, 2012). This is considered as a perfect opportunity for an individual seeking to advance his skill and knowledge in IT because different companies and institutions are providing additional training to fresh graduates as a way of motivating more graduates to join the sector and as a technique of ensuring that the available graduates are trained on how to use the latest infrastructure in IT sector (Edwards, 2012). Australia is a society that provides equal opportunities to local and foreign students. This means that these opportunities are also open for international students to access and improve on different areas. In conclusion, being an international student in a country such as Australia presents numerous challenges and opportunities. The challenges are only associated with instances of culture shock while the opportunities are often meant to improve on an individual’s skills and knowledge. These opportunities have been of great help especially in building my skills and competencies that can not only help Kuwait but also the world. References Edwards, M. (2012). Public sector governance in Australia. Acton, A.C.T: ANU E Press Joseph, S., & Najmabadi, A. (2006). Encyclopedia of women & Islamic cultures: Vol. 3. Leiden: Brill. Ong, D. (2010). The International students' handbook: Living and studying in Australia. Sydney: UNSW Press. Read More