Our Experiences And Our Video

Humans of Macquarie has been an incredible community engagement piece for us editors over the past few weeks here at Macquarie. To everyone that has helped contribute, we'd like to thank you for your support. This blog has challenged us to get out of our comfort zone and find out what we can about the wonderful community that Macquarie has fostered for many years.
We hope that this blog has given the readers and insight into the many faces of Macquarie, the backgrounds, the motivations, the inspirations and the ideas that make Macquarie such a unique learning environment.

This video will hopefully give you more of an insight into the journey so far, and what's next for the Humans of Macquarie Blog:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWTz66hV3hk

Meet Claudia

Claudia is in her final year of her undergraduate degree at Macquarie. Her next plan is to complete the Bachelor of Psychology - Honours program. A bright young student, with ambitions that to contribute to the future of human science.
Claudia told me that one of the toughest things about university has been a work-life balance. "How do you manage to keep up with social life, work and still maintain the grades for such a high demanding program"

She told me some wise words "love what you do, and you'll never work a day in your life. I surround myself with positive energy and give myself a reason to work"

Claudia has been a good friend of mine, since my introduction to university and has been there to motivate me through all of my time at Macquarie. More than a study partner, she is one of my closest friends and could not think of a better candidate for my last interview.

The lighting was dark when this was taken so I was unable to get an up to date photo, but this was a photo that I have from last years Conception Day celebrations with her boyfriend Nathan.

Will

Had a chat with members of the W.A.N.G club

W.A.N.G. stands for "We All Need Grub"

Every two weeks, these guys host a barbecue outside the Macquarie Student building, and all members of their society are allowed to take part in an all you can eat sausage sizzle. Membership fees go towards the various events and parties that they throw, as well as the barbecues of course. These guys are by the university, for the university and have fed hungry teachers and students for years now - and hopefully for many more.

I didn't get a chance to have an individual interview but I was able to get a snap of these guys. Mind you it was a little hard to work the camera with a sausage sandwich in one hand :)

Will

Meet Bec!

Rebecca Pearse is studying a Bachelor of Arts (media culture & communication) with Bachelor of Commerce (marketing). Her goals are to be successful and happy with a great job, family, stable home and able to travel. "I want to be happy and have enough money to live without stress or worry, be close with my family, marry and have kids". 

Her favourite quote is: "be yourself, everyone else is already taken" - Oscar Wilde

I grew up with Bec. We went to the same primary school years kindergarten - 6th and to the same high school in year 7 before I moved to America. I was leaving my ISYS lecture when she messaged me saying "Hey I think I just sat behind you in ISYS!". It's funny how life works and how you're paths can cross even years after not seeing someone. Especially with childhood friends, since so much can change between the ages of 12 and 19.

-Danielle xx

Meet Monica

We caught Monica on her way to class today.
Monica is studying her masters in environmental geography specifically in urban planning and told us of her plans to lead improve public transport here in Sydney

"Sydney is a wonderful place to live but it shows us the public transport system has room for improvement. No one likes being stuck in traffic"

We wish her the best of luck, her help couldn't come soon enough (said from the perspective of someone that catches two buses and a train to get into university)

Will

Meet Adam Ghanem!

Adam Ghanem

"I'm currently studying Bachelor of IT in games, design, and development, but dreading it and hoping to switch to a Bachelor of Arts in Media and Law, or a Bachelor of Speech Sound and Therapy. My long term goal is to be successful in the future and ensure that my family and close friends are successful too. My hopes and dreams include to meet the entire Chelsea team because I'm a diehard football fan and they're the team I support! I want to own a nice car and a nice house and ensure that my future wife is satisfied with her life and to repay my mum as much as I can with all that she has done for me."

Favorite Quote: "We are not enemies, but friends. Though passion may have strained it, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory will swell when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature." -Abraham Lincoln

-Danielle xx

Barathan from Africa:)

After living seven years in Sri Lanka and fourteen years in Blantyre, Malawi; I have started my varsity journey at Macquarie University in Sydney pursuing a Bachelors commerce degree. After three years in Sydney I have come to enjoy the city life; while juggling my varsity commitments.

"By living alone and by myself I have come to realise that living simply, dreaming big, being grateful for what I have while enjoying nature and having fun are the important things necessary for a healthy life." Barathan Inpabalan.
-Hashan Jay

Iddo Hamani

 Iddo Hamani from New Jersey (Suburbs. Studying Civil Engineering. "My goal is to finish my degree and then take a few years off traveling the world and meeting new people." Favorite quote: "Live your life to the fullest because you won't get out alive."

Iddo is an exchange student from New Jersey. He is here for one semester and living in Macquarie Village! Those that live in the village, especially on exchange, are like a family. It's a very social community as all the macquarie and UBar events are right next door on campus! I admire Iddo for stepping out of his comfort zone to study abroad in a different country, not knowing anybody. I think it's an incredible opportunity and I would love to study a semester abroad also. Travelling is a very common goal. I think its important to see as much of the world as you can. It can broaden your horizon and show you a different side of life.

-Danielle xx

Alex!

Today’s Human of Macquarie that I had the pleasure of meeting was Alex. Alex is future politician in his 4th year at Macquarie University. We talked for a while and I asked him if he has a life moto that helped him get to where he is in his university degree and if he would like to share it. He then he paused for a moment and responded with ‘not really’. I then asked if he has a favourite saying. He chuckled and then responded with ‘some people say I’m indecisive… I’m not too sure about that”, i found this to be very witty and amusing. 

Emma xx

Miguel and the Nepal Appeal

In the Macquarie courtyard, I met up with Miguel, a student that was taking part in a fundraiser for those affected by the earthquakes in Nepal. Miguel told us about his team and his experiences with his efforts.

“I’d like to thank everyone that helped to donate. In just 20 minutes, we raised over 100 dollars for the Red Cross Nepal Appeal. We pride ourselves in coming together and helping those in need when we can. It’s been great to be a part of”

Will

Albert

I met up with Albert on the grass in-front of the macquarie lake, who was relaxing with a friend.

“Oh she’s not my girlfriend, we’re not dating. She’s one of my closest friends, we met in second year. I can tell you, I’d probably have gone insane if I didn’t have her help” - Albert, studying Accounting in his third year.

Will :)

Hakeem

This is Hakeem, I met him in my marketing class and decided to find out a little bit more about him. After asking him what his favourite saying/life moto was he sat and thought for a moment and then turned to me and said "can i tell you later as i'm not quite sure at the moment". Later during the class he turns to me and out of nowhere says "winter is coming". I look at him very confused and realised what he is talking about and ask why he likes that saying. Without missing a beat Hakeem responds with "i think it speaks to being prepared for whatever life throws at you.... and i love Game of Thrones". I think he has really captured the real meaning of the quote that the writer was trying to convey.

Emma xx

Meet Jack!

Today i got to know Jack, he is in his second year at Macquarie. His dream job is to work as a "search engine optimization" worker. When i asked him what his favourite moto or saying was that he lived by he was unsure but responded with "i know which saying i dislike the most". Firstly he explained where he heard this saying from."I was in Thailand and was sitting at the train station with my friend and this dirty homeless looking man came up and sat next to me and started smoking a 'joint' and i asked him not to as there were lots of police around. The man then turned to me and said 'if you live life outside the box you are taking up to much room'. The man then proceeded to through the joint and me and run away laughing." At this point in his story I looked at him very confused. He then proceeded to say "i disagree with the saying as you should take up as much room as you want and experience as much as you can in this short life".

Emma xx

Meeting Marius

Today I met a future Accountant, named Marius. He is in his third year at university and cannot wait to finish and start his career. He is a happy member of the Macquarie hockey club, and says he loves nothing better than playing hockey with his friends. You may have seen him around the past few weeks running the bbq to raise money for his team. When I asked him what is life moto was he laughed and said "My life saying is don't forget to pull out... jokes jokes, my life moto would be don't give up on what you enjoy doing".

Emma x

Matt Mansour

I asked Matt what his favourite part of lecturing was and being an academic was. His response:

"I enjoy connecting with students, it's mentoring and engaging the students that's the most rewarding part of what I do"

Will :)

Daniel

Meet Daniel, he is a future economist, in his final year of uni and is very excited to start his career. whilst talking to Daniel i asked him if he had a life moto or a piece of advice that helped him through uni. He paused and said, the his moto was 'you can't go wrong with fried chicken', then continued to laugh. After her stopped laughing he explained and said that with all the times he has been hungover during his uni degree and he has found the best solution is fried chicken. I laughed and will be keeping this hangover cure in mind!

Emma xx