I’m Aswathi, a postgraduate student at Unimelb studying management in marketing. I have been studying marketing for 6 years and I haven’t turned back since! I’m in my 2nd semester of studying here at unimelb and it’s been amazing so far! I have been associated with MBSSA since semester 1 and am ever-grateful for the opportunity and exposure I’ve gained. Apart from that, I’ve been a professional cricketer ever since I was 9 years old and have represented my state (Tamil Nadu) in India in countless tournaments conducted by the Board of Cricket Control in India. I have also captained the team in both the under-16 and under-19 age divisions. Additionally, I also was part of the National Cricket Academy South Zone camp squad. I now represent Melbourne University Cricket Club in the Cricket Victoria shield 1 tournament.
What are your core values that you always live by? or what is your insipration?
Perseverance and hard work.
These have always been my core tenets ever since I was a child. Playing a sport that demands you to be disciplined, mature and thick-skinned from a young age moulds you this way. Failure is around the corner always when you play the sport and I was hard-wired to pick myself up, brush it off and start anew. Working day and night, just to try to perfect yourself gets tiring but to me, it was important to push through.
What’s the hardest part about being you?
The hardest part about being me is juggling a million things at the same time, trying not to compromise anywhere. Studying, playing cricket, working at MBSSA and Amber Electric, having a semblance of a social life, all I’ll admit, make me want to pull all my hair out but my core tenets kick in and I’m as good as new!
How do you balance study/work/extracurriculars/social life?
Serious time management, although sometimes I compromise my social life. I always make sure to have some me-time as well, as I think that really helps one reset and rejuvenate to get back into the grind again.
What’s one thing about MBS that you’d miss when you graduate?
The people.
I’ve met some of the most interesting and inspiring people I know at MBS. Not just the student community but the faculty as well. I know we have ways to keep in touch with each other, but let’s be honest, that hardly ever happens. But I am so grateful to have been able to get to know this friendly cohort and learn from them every step of the way.
What advice do you have for other aspiring students in MBS just starting their journeys?
Get to all your classes.
That’s where you’ll do some great networking and learn more about your peers and professors. People think classes are just about learning, but I disagree. Interacting with others and developing real connections are some things you will never get out of watching lecture recordings.
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