"The student culture is fantastic because it is built on a love for learning and a desire to help each other out wherever we can. I was impressed with the University of Melbourne’s dedication to supporting their students."
Sara started the Bachelor of Biomedicine at the University of Melbourne in 2018, after completing a Diploma in Biotechnology back home in Singapore at Singapore Polytechnic.
"I embarked on this journey in Melbourne with the intention of pursuing my passion – health and medicine. I’m inspired by human nature. There are countries wrought with war and terrible living conditions, yet people still manage to thrive. It is a testament to the strength of human nature. I am also inspired by its fragility. A simple switch of an amino acid to another could mean life or death. This is why I chose biomedicine. To understand the frailty of life and find out how we can overcome it."
For Sara, the University of Melbourne really started to feel like home when she finalised her enrolment.
"The University of Melbourne is a stone’s throw away from popular eateries, supermarkets and basically, everything you need to thrive. The student culture is fantastic because it is built on a love for learning and a desire to help each other out wherever we can. I was impressed with the University of Melbourne’s dedication to supporting their students. They have student help centres for almost any problem one could have as a young adult – there’s counselling, academic help and on campus security, to name a few.
"The hardest part about studying overseas is being away from my friends and family, and it was daunting to be in a foreign country on my own. Luckily, there are many clubs to join and plenty of opportunities to make friends. There are events like ‘speed friending’ and ‘game night’ to help us if we’re having trouble too!"
University is an opportunity to really develop yourself. The Bachelor of Biomedicine has helped Sara to grow.
"University is very different to any prior schooling I’ve had because you are expected to take charge of your own learning. We are encouraged to seek information from textbooks and research papers. We are no longer ‘spoon-fed’ information and are expected to think critically about problems and solve them on our own. As a consequence, I’ve become more responsible, independent and resourceful.
"Studying diseases and their effect on human structure and function has always been my main interest. It’s a joy to complete subjects like Molecules to Malady (BIOM30002) Human Structure and Function (BIOM20002). The subject coordinators go above and beyond to schedule patient interviews and coordinate anatomy labs. As a result, we are exposed to aspects of medicine that simply can’t be taught in a lecture.
"The student culture is fantastic because it is built on a love for learning and a desire to help each other out wherever we can. I was impressed with the University of Melbourne’s dedication to supporting their students."
Of the 15 majors available to Bachelor of Biomedicine students, Sara majors in Physiology.
"Physiology is about learning how the body functions on a day-to-day basis. I am fascinated and awed by how life-changing diseases can arise from a single mutation.
"We learn about diseases that affect millions of people and current research to find cures. We were lucky enough to have guest speakers come to class and talk about their ailments, daily problems they face and how advances in medicine have drastically improved their quality of life. Patient interviews are the highlight of my experience in Biomedicine."
The Melbourne Model allows students to pursue their interests outside of their specialisation and diversify their world view. Through her breadth subjects, Sara had the opportunity to try learning Italian and business law, taking ITAL10008 Italian 1 and BLAW10001 Principles of Business Law.
"I’ve always struggled with Mandarin in school and thought I’d give it a go with another language. I’ve always loved Italy and have been there many times, so it seemed like a good idea to learn the language. During Italian 1, not only did I learn the basics of Italian, I was exposed to Italy’s rich culture and history. The best part was learning about how they came to settle in Melbourne and create a ‘Little Italy’ on Lygon Street.
"I took Principles of Business Law to better my understanding about a field I know absolutely nothing about. That’s the beauty of breadth subjects. I love the applicability of BLAW. We learn about contract law, property law, agency law and the like. It’s information that’s useful to anyone buying a house or engaging a real estate agent."
Outside of class, Sara is involved in the Singapore Students’ Society and Tabletop Gaming Society on campus, and volunteering for the Teddy Bear Hospital.
"Volunteering for the Teddy Bear Hospital was one of the most fulfilling experiences during my time at the University of Melbourne. I volunteered at the anatomy station to teach children about the human body. Their enthusiasm to learn reminds me of why I love studying biomedicine."
After completing her Bachelor of Biomedicine, Sara intends to pursue a degree in medicine.
"You may be stressed and overworked at times, but remember to enjoy yourself! Your time at the University of Melbourne is fleeting, seize every opportunity to make memories."