Raj's study abroad story

Semester exchange: Northeastern University in Boston, USA
Study tour: Aviation Study Tour to the United Arab Emirates 
Overseas internship: Global Citizen Overseas Internship
Swinburne course: Bachelor of Aviation / Bachelor of Business
 

Raj at the Global Citizen Festival

My overseas experiences have totally impacted my career path and choices- I think the chance to travel and transcend borders, cultures and working environments helped me understand, with greater nuance, the opportunities that lie in different parts of the world. I found myself more comfortable with living overseas and this comfort has given me the confidence to apply for jobs that are more suited to my interests that are overseas and outside of my professional comfort zone.

The financial aspect of traveling was always a large consideration for me but thanks to Swinburne's generous scholarship program and the support of the Swinburne Abroad office, I was able to travel on all of my overseas experiences with some form of financial support.

After graduating, I continued to travel and work overseas in New York, across Europe and in Montreal. More recently, I have returned to study my Masters to further specialise in my field.

I think the all of international experiences fundamentally changed the way I saw the workforce. I gained a global perspective that helped me look beyond Australia for opportunities. It was all three of my international experiences that helped me nail down where I see myself in five years’ time and I didn't feel bound to the Australian workforce.

My overseas experiences have helped me gain complex cultural adaptability, confidence in diverse professional settings and a sense of comfort in new environments.