I come from a small town in Punjab called Rajpura, and my journey to Australia has been nothing short of an adventure. I started my Bachelor’s in computing at Manipal University in India, before transferring to the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra. I was supposed to arrive in 2021, but COVID delayed my plans, forcing me to study remotely for a year. It was frustrating, after all that effort, I only had two semesters of studying abroad left.

But when I finally arrived in 2022, something beautiful happened. I wasn’t starting from scratch since I had already met people online during remote learning. I had a community waiting for me. That made settling in so much easier. My final year was intense, mostly spent on my research project, but I made time for my passion: videography. I picked up a camera at 12, and it became more than a hobby. At the Australian National University, I filmed videos for different university departments, not just for money but for the joy of creating and storytelling.

After graduating in November 2022, I simplified my life. No more juggling multiple projects, I committed to just two things: my full-time job as a bioinformatician and content creation. By day, I work with DNA, studying endangered Australian reptiles and Indigenous communities to decode the code of life. By night, I create videos that resonate, helping international students navigate life in Australia and making simple, healthy meals fun through Broke Student Meals. This project started as an experiment but became a passion.

Looking back, I’m grateful for every challenge. The struggles, the setbacks, even the uncertainty, it all taught me resilience. I’m thankful for the friendships, the lessons, and the chance to build a life where I can do what I love while making an impact. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that while the journey is never easy, the key is to keep going, to chase your passions, take risks, embrace every opportunity, and create something meaningful, even as a student. @kiratalreja