The Idea

This submission was a part of a collaboration with the WHYNOT see link below.

When I first moved to Perth to study, the beauty of the city struck me – its vast blue skies, serene sandy beaches, and lush greenery. But I felt that beneath the beauty of the city, there was a sense of isolation. As an international student, I realised that fitting in was not going to be as easy as I had hoped, given that there was a subtle social divide that separated locals and foreigners, thus making forming connections for me difficult.

I guess it was the unfamiliar surroundings and subtle cultural nuances that made me really depressed during the first half of my first semester. So, around the tenth week, I relayed my depressive thoughts to Mia, the elected well-being advisor of the year in my dorm. She invited me to her room and engaged me in a deep conversation for an hour. I vividly remember her telling me to build my space within the subtle cultural gap that she also agreed was prevalent in Perth. She assured me that it was perfectly alright to find peace alone, as stillness often held the answers.

Her words resonated deeply with me. Thus, I decided to embrace the solitude I was facing instead of trying hard to fight it. Through her recommendations, I began taking solo long walks and sit-downs along the paths and benches of Matilda Bay and the Blue House while exploring the city myself. I then started noticing the minor, subtle ways in which connections formed – through shared experiences with other international students in events organised by the University and my dorm, and random conversations in the dining hall of my dorm. Hence, I am eternally grateful to Mia, as through her words, I realised that I could find belonging by building a community not based on force or desperation, but just natural instincts, by being comfortable in my own space and not worrying or caring about possible social divide that could arise.

Unfiltered Thoughts: Wellbeing