“From a small-town beginning in Darwin to building a nationwide community for international students, my journey is about growth, adaptability, and creating opportunities where they’re needed most.
I was born and raised in Darwin, and lived there until I turned 18. In 2022, I moved to Melbourne for university at the University of Melbourne and it was a big shift from the lifestyle I was used to. I was eager to leave Darwin because I knew the opportunities I was seeking weren’t available there.
University life started off great, but soon after, lockdown hit. My first year ended up being entirely online, and I faced challenges adjusting to virtual learning, especially after failing a subject for the first time. It was a tough time, but I got through it.
One of the most rewarding parts of my university experience was joining clubs. I got involved in Enactus in my second year after initially being rejected. I quickly discovered my passion for social impact, and within a year, I became the president. It was my first leadership role, and it sparked rapid personal growth.
In my final year, I lived with an international student from Malaysia who was struggling to get the same job opportunities as I did simply because of his visa status. I felt connected to his experience because my grandfather had also been an international student. I realised there was a lack of support for international students, so we decided to do something about it.
That’s how Stint was born—a community for international students to share resources and job opportunities. We started small, but now have nearly 5,000 students across Australia. Our goal has always been to create a space where students can support each other.
Working on Stint has taught me so much. It’s been a part-time project alongside my full-time job, and I’m grateful for the skills I’ve gained. Most importantly, I’ve learned to be persistent, face rejection head-on, and keep growing. I feel incredibly fortunate to have the support of my amazing co-founders and the opportunities that my family’s hard work has given me.” 👋 Nathan Lee
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