For Kamashi Sharma Pokhrel, an international student from Nepal, life in Sydney has been an rewarding experience.
Kamashi arrived in Sydney in 2022 to study her second masters degree, a Masters in Business Administration. Before arriving in Sydney, she worked as a project officer with a non-profit that supports journalists in Nepal.
“I’m learning lots of things and having a good time in Sydney. It’s great,” Kamashi said.
“Until now, I’m enjoying good food, good life, good atmosphere and lots of opportunities.”
Kamashi’s favourite part of her time here in Sydney has been being a part of the City of Sydney’s international student leadership and ambassador (ISLA) program. She and her fellow student ambassadors will be graduating from the program at the Lord Mayor's welcome for international students on Wednesday 6 March.
The program offers free training, work-integrated learning and volunteering prospects as well as an opportunity to make new friends and build a local support network. There are 24 ambassadors in the 2023 team. Over the past year, they’ve worked together to create 6 events supporting international students in Sydney.
“That was an amazing experience, working with multicultural and diverse backgrounds. Everyone was welcoming.
“And hanging out with them, going to the beach and after our meetings, going out and visiting Town Hall and having good food. Those things were an amazing experience. It was awesome.”
“I feel so loved and welcomed in each and every place.”
A warm welcome for new students
Kamashi and her fellow ambassadors were introduced at the Lord Mayor’s welcome event for international students in 2023. It’s a free event Kamashi thinks every newly arrived international student should attend.
“It was amazing!” Kamashi said. “Getting the badge from the Mayor, we were standing on stage, all 24 students.
“And after completing the introduction and welcoming, we were able to come down and explore and each and every stall, created for international students. There was Study NSW, the police and Redfern Legal Service.
“The Lord Mayor’s event is not only about welcoming international students. It’s all about informing them that we are behind them to support in each and every situation.”
“Coming here and making new friends and trying to understand the culture is tough.
“And the Lord Mayor’s event is an opportunity for international students to know about all these services with professionals, with experts. They can have a chat and know about the services which will be helpful for them in the future.”
Kamashi also recommends that international students try out the City of Sydney’s free Australian Sports Program. It’s a chance for anyone new to Australia to try out different Australian sports in a welcoming environment.
“It’s quite helpful for international students to network, learn and make new friends,” Kamashi said.
“Because you might be focusing on study, study, study and sports are also important for students for a healthy life and to mingle with others.”
The fighting spirit to do our best
If there’s something to learn from Kamashi’s time in Sydney, it’s that perseverance pays off.
It’s Kamashi’s tenacity that led her to 2 big achievements here in Sydney – her work as an ambassador and winning the Dean’s Award at Kaplan Business School.
Kamashi knew the ambassador program was something she wanted to be a part of when she was researching student life in Sydney.
“I came to know about the international student ambassadorship program when I was in Nepal.”
But applications to the program had already closed by the time she arrived in Sydney. Although she was disappointed, Kamashi kept a keen eye on announcements for the program until applications opened for the following year.
“I was so excited! It’s not easy that we are able to enrol in this. In the interview there were lots of questions – ‘why do you want to be a student ambassador?’, ‘prove yourself’, ‘what are you going to do?’”
Kamashi’s application for the Dean’s Award at her college started off with similar setbacks.
“I didn’t get it the first time. The first time I did not even meet the criteria,” Kamashi said. “But I did it and second time I got runner up, and then third time I applied and I got it.”
“So don’t give up hope. Try again and again.”
“Check where we are missing the requirements. Ask your friends or your current employer or your lecturer. We have some mentors in our life. Ask them and try again and again so that we can meet what we want or what we want to achieve.
“Everyone in Australia as an international student has faced lots of challenges.
“So we need to learn from them. We need to have this fighting spirit so that we can do our best in Australia. If we are going back to our home country then we can present our learnings and experience that we have learned here.”
Just arrived in Sydney to study?
Don't miss the Lord Mayor’s welcome for international students on Wednesdsay 6 March. Make new friends, meet graduating international student ambassadors and find support for your life in Sydney at this free welcome event.
Sign up to be notified when applications open for the City of Sydney's 2024/25 international student leadership and ambassador program.
Register for Australian Sports Program. Try out Australian sports, make new friends and enjoy lunch at this free event.
Read our insider’s guide to Sydney for international students.
Published 23 February 2024, updated 29 February 2024
