I still remember the first time I came to MDIS Campus as an international student, I had mixed feelings – happy and fearful at the same time. Happy that I had the opportunity to pursue my studies overseas and fearful that I would not be able to adapt to my new environment, since I was the only Timorese student in MDIS and English is not my first language.  I was also afraid that I would not be able to catch up with the flow of studies.  To the contrary, I was got all the support that I needed from my lecturers and friends

I am currently enrolled in the Electronic and Electrical engineering programme and I am very happy that I will be moving on to the third-year this July. Moreover, I have made a lot of new friends from all over the world and enjoy sharing knowledge and at the same time being a part of the school events, for example, I am the Vice-President of IESMDIS student chapter and School of Engineers student club known as GEARS and also programme manager at Developer Student Club – MDIS. The reason I joined the Club is to empower myself with the extra skills such as programming, event management, teamwork, and much more.

Being involved in various School and Club activities has assisted me in developing my leadership, communication skills, team work, problem solving, critical thinking and management skills for my future career. Having volunteered at the MDIS Open House event, my team and I created a robot and showcased it to visitors and we also assisted in orientating visitors to the engineering faculty. In MDIS, we do not only focus on the academic studies but also engage in school activities and events, socialise with fellow school mates going out for meals, watching movies and sharing our culture.

Studying in MDIS has been a life changing experience for me because I am exposed to an international mix of students from all over the world.  I look forward to an enriching learning experience at MDIS!

This article is contributed by Rivania Maria Ximenes.