Zahra – studying Commerce/Law
Beginning high school, I had my mind set on working my way up through any career path I chose and I honestly thought uni would be a waste of time if all that mattered at the end of the day was work experience. Read more about how I got to Sydney Uni.
I can talk to you about:
- why going to uni is a good idea
- applying for scholarships
- career options with a law degree.
What do you like to do for fun?
Apart from spending time with family and friends, I’m an avid reader and so whenever I get the chance I get stuck into a book. I learnt how to sew in high school so I sometimes mess around with my mum’s sewing machine and make poorly crafted things that everyone refuses to wear! But I have to admit that the bulk of my time is spent studying and working which, when it comes down to it, are the things I enjoy the most!
If you could trade places with any other person for a week (famous or not famous, living or dead, real or fictional) who would it be?
This is really cheesy but probably George Orwell. I’m a huge fan of his books and sometimes I really wonder about what he must have experienced and thought about in order to write so eloquently and honestly about the world around him.
What do you want to do when you graduate?
My degree really lends itself to a career in commercial law and that’s probably the area where I’d like to start my career. I currently work as a part-time analyst with Deloitte in their Tax and Legal Services department and I’m learning a lot in that role and look forward to hopefully starting there permanently once I graduate.
Would you rather be able to stop time or fly, and why?
Definitely stop time! Sometimes there are moments in life I wish I could freeze and prolong. Other times, I’ll be honest, I just want to stop time so I can study a bit more for exams.
Any tips for getting through the HSC?
Don’t get caught up in the hype about the HSC without first figuring out what it is you want from your HSC year. Prioritise what you find most important and work towards achieving those priorities. I really believe you only get out of your HSC what you put in, so make sure your efforts are in line with your goals. Plus, I always find that a strong cup of coffee and a well-mapped study plan can also go a long way.
My path to Sydney Uni
It was in Year 9 that we were told by our high school careers adviser that only 25 percent of our grade would go on to study at university. I guess it was the confronting reality of this statistic that made me start to think about why it was that anyone went to uni and whether it was the right place for me. As high school went on, I became sure that I wanted a career in law and it was then that the desirability of going to uni became clear to me.
The transition from high school to uni was a little overwhelming at first. However, I found many people here – including lecturers and tutors – who were more than willing to help me progress and develop.
Getting a scholarship from my faculty really made a difference to my degree, not only because it eased things financially but also because it allowed me to get more involved with the Business School and focus on enjoying and enriching my university experience.
Looking back now I can honestly say that choosing to go to uni was the the best decision I've ever made. Not only because I need a law degree to be a lawyer, but also because uni helps to broaden your mind in so many ways and gives you the time and tools to experiment and decide what you want to do as a professional and as a person.
As Generation Y'ers we're meant to be an indecisive lot who will change our career paths at least six times in our lifetime. What I’ve learned though is that neither a single degree nor mere work experience is instrumental to a long and fulfilling career. Rather it’s about what we choose to do with the opportunities presented to us. Uni, if anything, is fertile ground for providing us with those opportunities.