Studying in Australia is often viewed as a brilliant journey, opening doors to knowledge and opportunities in new lands. However, few people share the hidden reality behind the cheerful check-in photos on social media. This article is a heartfelt confession from an experienced international student in Australia, who went through days not only of roses but also of sweat, tears, and cold loneliness. Let Levisa walk you through this authentic share to get a comprehensive view and prepare best for your study abroad decision.
The International Student Experience: The Equation of Balancing Tuition and Living Expenses
According to a heartfelt share from a Levisa student, balancing tuition and living costs is certainly not easy. Sometimes, a university degree must be traded for relentless, sleepless working days.
“To maximize my working hours, I accepted 24/7 shifts at McDonald’s that most of my friends here wouldn’t take. Why? Because these shifts are mostly overnight – when most people are warm in their beds, I was still standing at the drive-thru or cleaning up for the next day.”
Study Abroad Life: A Race Against Time and Fear
Study abroad life is like a race. I constantly have to organize time for studying, part-time work, and tackling difficult homework and deadlines in class.
“When I finished my shift, I didn’t even have time to see the sunrise because I had to rush to catch the bus to school to make it in time for the first university class. In the evening, I’d shower, quickly nap, then wake up to do homework, eat a quick bowl of noodles, and rush off to my night shift again. Every day was so busy that I didn’t even have time to feel homesick anymore.”
Unwilling Breaks and the Canberra Cold
“I remember days when there weren’t many customers, so the boss would let me leave early to save on labor costs. It was 3-4 am then – a time when no matter how hard you looked, you couldn’t find a single bus – so I had to curl up on a chair behind the restaurant to catch some sleep before heading to school early in the morning.
I was lucky then; there were other days I worked the afternoon shift and finished at 11 pm, barely catching the last bus to the city center stop. After that, I had to walk home for nearly an hour in the harsh, cold weather of Canberra.”
The Fear of the Dark and Loneliness
“Actually, I was prepared for the cold with a jacket, scarf, and gloves, but the fear of the dark, ghosts, and being kidnapped never went away.
Sometimes, I look back and wonder how I managed to do things that I might not be able to do again now. That is a part of the reality of studying in Australia that nobody tells you.”
International Student Lessons: Priceless Growth and the Indomitable Spirit
These difficulties were not just challenges, but invaluable lessons for every international student.
Optimal Time Management: Studying abroad gives you the opportunity to learn how to scientifically allocate every minute between studying, working, and resting, which many people had never achieved before.
Inner Strength: Facing fear, loneliness, and fatigue helped me discover the resilience and strong will within, making me much more independent and persistent.
Appreciating the Value of Money: Every dollar earned from those night shifts was soaked in sweat, helping me appreciate the value of labor and know how to spend wisely.
A Vision for Study Abroad Success: Every effort is directed towards the goal of graduation and building a career in Australia. Those sleepless nights are an investment in future study abroad success.
Is Studying Abroad Really All Rosy?
Studying abroad – there will be moments when you just want to give up and return to your family, but every effort is worth the reward, right? You still want to reach the dream you always dreamed of.
Levisa understands that the study abroad journey is a mix of dreams and sweat. We don’t paint a wholly rosy picture, but help you prepare the best luggage to face and conquer every difficulty. From advising on the optimal academic path to guiding you through settlement procedures in Australia, Levisa commits to being a reliable companion, helping you turn efforts into deserved study abroad success.
LEVISA – Tư vấn Hồ sơ du học – định cư
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