Andrew from Perth, Studying Screen Production
So I have really valued the tutoring system here. More so than actually sitting down and editing - though that’s…helped with assignments - I think the greatest thing I’ve got from my tutor was just the casual conversation about the course, about life after uni, and about handling stress.
Andrew from Perth, Studying Screen Production
Andrew's Experience:
Hi everyone. I’m Andrew, my fresher name is Burks and I’m a first year at college.
What attracted me to New College was the size of the pool of residents there, and the size of the building as well. I was really attracted to the idea of all the residents in one building, in one area. They’re not spread out, so it forced you to see everyone in the college. It forced you to have all these interactions with people that sometimes you normally wouldn’t have.
As I’m from Perth I arrived a day earlier because it’s such a long flight over here compared to the rest of Australia. When I arrived the group system really helped me settle in because I had my oldies to help me sort out where everything was...
O’Week was a lot of fun, it was very full on, very hectic, but I think it’s a very great start to the year. It definitely forces you to try new things, to open you up more, to be more social and the foundations of a lot of friendships happen in O’Week. I’m really thankful for the group system because I feel like that’s cemented in O’Week, and that support structure throughout the year does wonders for you socially and mentally as well. It’s really good to have people that you can rely on, talk to in your group or just down the corridor.
Living with them and being away from your family as well…they do become a sense of family in that aspect, especially birthdays. When your friends support you on your birthday it’s really special. You’re not at home anymore and they’re the people who are going to celebrate with you.
I really enjoy using the study rooms at the top of the college. Sometimes when you need more motivation, seeing other people study helps me study, rather than doing it in my room… You see other students with their tutors and it becomes this environment when learning is encouraged and it’s a comfortable environment as well. It’s not too quiet and it fosters discussion between you and your tutor.
I have really valued the tutoring system here. More so than actual sitting down and editing - though that’s helpful as well and helped with assignments - I think the greatest thing I’ve got from my tutor was just the casual conversation about the course, about life after uni, and about handling stress.
The community building at college is amazing actually, it’s one of the best things the college does. They hold events every week… and you’ll end up doing some wide array of things like volunteering at a soup kitchen, playing Frisbee, auditioning for a play, eating a spicy chilli in a chilli-eating competition… It’s really helped by the sub- committees, which are committees specialised into interests. So there’s a food-soc, there’s a wave-soc (which is a surfing soc), there is an under-age soc, who put events on for those who can’t go out because they’re not 18 yet.
I never actually did drama in high school but going to college I’ve done a lot of drama this year actually, which I loved… I was the lead role in ‘The Crucible’ – the lead role is John Proctor – and I just had so much fun. I’m so glad I did it! The play is a very good college community building event because… you have to work with each other the whole time. It’s a really good way to meet people, especially with people that you aren’t necessarily that close with, but it really strengthens the bonds and you become quite a tight knit group.
So after the play I thought, “ah well, I might try my luck in directing Revue, co-directing Revue.” And we did a parody of the superhero genre and on collegians. It’s amazed me how much work has been put into it by other collegians and seeing how your vision comes to life through all the work of fellow residents. There’s probably a thousand props backstage… and that’s taken a lot of effort and work, but the team has been great!