Swinburne Hellenic Society
Having a passion for exploring new cultures and traditions, I was an active member of the
University Greek Club during my final years at university. I progressed from a general
committee member to the executive committee as the Treasurer. Despite not having a Greek
background, I was entrusted by the community to hold this title and fulfil the associated
responsibilities.
During my six months as Treasurer, I contributed to organising events, managing club
finances, and promoting Greek culture within the university. This opportunity allowed me to
meet many wonderful individuals, not just from my university but from across Melbourne, as
our club is affiliated with
NUGAS. I had an incredible time learning about Greek culture and embraced every
opportunity to enjoy Souvlaki.
In2Science
I have always been passionate about math and I believe that anyone can engage with it given
the right guidance. This belief motivated me to volunteer as a maths mentor with the
In2Science programme in 2022 and
2023. I worked with Year 10 students, helping them grasp mathematical concepts and providing
insight into what it’s like to study STEM at university.
Many people are put off by math because they perceive it as merely a "subject of numbers,"
which I find quite unfortunate. When viewed as a "language of logic," it becomes
significantly more engaging. I have tried to share this perspective with my students, and it
has been rewarding to witness their growing enjoyment of the language. Additionally, it was
a lovely to be nominated for Best Mentor in 2022 and to be a finalist for Best Communicator
in 2023.
Sweebs Club
Starting university during COVID was rather disappointing, particularly as the first year is
typically a time for meeting new people. However, with online classes and limited
socialising, I was determined not to miss out on the opportunity. Consequently, I decided to
establish a new university club called Sweebs, which focused on Asian animated entertainment,
including Japanese and Korean comics, cartoons, J-pop, and K-pop.
As I began this venture, I realised that the club could be more than just a niche interest
group. I recognised that all university students were likely seeking ways to connect with
one another, even while we were confined to online interactions. Therefore, I shifted the
focus to creating a social space for students to gather and network.
This approach proved to be highly successful, and we grew to over 400 members in just a few
months. It became one of the largest university clubs at the time, and it was wonderful to
see individuals from across the university coming together. I also initiated an "all
committee community" to facilitate collaboration among different clubs for events. It was a
straightforward idea, but it turned out to be a significant success, with representatives
from over 20 clubs participating and working together within just a month - that was, for as
long as I was incharge.
Round Square: Eye Camp
In my final year of high school, I participated in a volunteer programme organised by
Round Square, which involved
travelling to underprivileged areas in India. Our mission was to raise awareness about eye
health and provide free eye tests and glasses to those in need. Prior to our work, we
received training from professionals on how to conduct eye tests, which was an invaluable
experience.
It was eye-opening to witness how many individuals were struggling with blurry vision, often
unaware that it was a treatable condition. We were able to make a significant difference by
offering free eye tests and glasses to those who required them. It was a deeply rewarding
experience that has stayed with me.
The programme was a tremendous success, garnering considerable local attention and media
coverage. Local news agencies even came to document our efforts, and I was fortunate enough
to be featured in one of the articles. Below is a section from the local newspaper that
highlights our experience.
