Daniel Halls

Fourth year, Bachelor of Nursing
Warrnambool Campus

I think the most challenging thing about university is settling into the whole idea that you have made it to uni and the whole learning concepts are quite different to what you had at secondary school. Coming from a smaller school in Colac in South-West Victoria, moving to a bigger Campus was daunting. Finding lecture rooms, tute rooms, working out my timetable and figuring out when that first assignment was due meant that the most overwhelming time for me was first year.

My story is a bit different to others. I had two first years for two different courses, I started in 2007 in Marine Biology and for me it wasn’t quite what I expected and I transferred to Nursing because I developed a stronger passion for it over my first year. It was hard enough getting sorted the first time let alone the second time! Talking to the staff from the Faculty I realised I was in for a bit of work, but because I had a passion to learn, it was all managed by studying hard and also working in groups with friends on the stuff I had trouble with.

I found what made my time at uni so memorable were the extracurricular activities and the opportunities to meet new friends. I was quite involved with a few things: I played for the Deakin Sharks in the Warrnambool and district league; I was part of the Residential Assistance team in 2009 where I was responsible for a unit of students along with a team of 10 other RAs; I also participated in the Host program in 2010’s Orientation which allowed me to pass on my knowledge of first year to others; I was also the president of the Warrnambool residences social committee; and whenever there were other events on run by the university or DUSA I would generally attend to meet other people.

My advice is that in your first year everyone you meet is in the same boat, so don’t be afraid to ask questions because the stupid question is the one that isn’t asked.