Two Indian students are inducted as Brisbane International Student Ambassadors. AKANSHA PANDEY reports
Indian students Harshitha Srinivas and Kunal Goyal, both 19, have been announced as the International Student Ambassadors for 2016 by Lord Mayor of Brisbane Council Graham Quirk. They join 38 other students from various parts of the globe in this position.
Harshitha and Kunal are students of the Queensland University of Technology, both pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Business.
Talking to Indian Link, both admitted to feeling nervous as well as excited to take on their new role. Both are passionate about cultural pluralism and the fact that Brisbane is making enthusiastic efforts to promote multiculturalism in its student community.
Kunal said, “I’ve always been the explorer, with all the volunteering and travelling I’ve done around the world.”
An ideal all-round student, Kunal is from Sangrur in Punjab and is at QUT on a scholarship. As a friendly and outgoing person, he is already popular on the social circuit on campus. A self-confessed foodie, he is loving the cuisine options in Brisbane.
Bangalore girl Harshitha said, “I love Brisbane and its people, who are open, friendly and so welcoming. The Mayor Graham Quirk himself is so approachable and friendly – he complimented me on my Indian attire at the induction ceremony! I love the city also for its nature, nightlife, arts and adventure.”
Both are looking forward, in their position, to learning more about Brisbane and Australia, and of course making many new friends.
Kunal observed, “I don’t want, at the end of my degree, to have a GPA of 5.5 but no exposure to Brisbane and the lifestyle here.”
Harshitha said, “I love the drive to Mount Cootha and have so often been overwhelmed by the view of the city, especially with the lights at night.”
Kunal, on the other hand, likes the calm nature of Brisbane city.
Both agree that new students should come to Brisbane with a quiet and open mind, to be responsible for themselves as an individual in a foreign country, but at the same time step out of their shell and embrace change.
The Brisbane International Student Ambassador Program adopts students from all over the world to tell their real-life Brisbane stories to their home country networks via social media. It was launched seven years ago to attract international students to Queensland. The Ambassadors this year come from Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Ecuador, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Joran, Nepal, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Mozambique, Russia, Sweden, South Korea, Singapore, Philippines, Netherlands, Taiwan, Vietnam and Thaila