Growing up, I always saw myself in a vocation that focused on empowering others. With this in mind, I always felt drawn towards a career in health, and the various study pathways available. I chose this degree for two reasons - my strong interest in healthcare, and the wide range of subjects available to study within this program.
I was pretty ecstatic when I got the offer, considering that it was my first preference and what I really wanted to study!
I generally follow the typical university grind: commuting to university, classes, eating, studying, going home. All the while trying to fit in activities such as work, gym, spending time with friends or extracurricular activities!
It is much different - I believe there is a more direct emphasis on self-directed learning. There are also more opportunities available, whether it is for social life, professional or personal development.
While I had researched this degree and what it entailed, I was most pleasantly surprised by the amazing support provided by the academics, and the learning resources that were available.
As a student double majoring in health and information systems, I have encountered and worked with a wide variety of students - I find that most people tend to be friendly and motivated.
Outside of my studies, I have been involved in faculty mentoring programs (both as mentee and mentor), starting a student society and participating in a student exchange - which saw me spend a month doing volunteer work in a developing country.
I have developed a career interest in project management, and am particularly interested in how this can be applied to solve problems in the healthcare domain - particularly in e-health, where you are harnessing the latest advances in information technologies to improve healthcare processes and practices.
I think the most important principle is to be open to learning and developing new interests - your expectations of the degree may be quite different to what you actually experience, but it is a wonderful opportunity to learn and grow.