Reflections of a Graduate

At the start of the every university calendar is orientation week, at Charles Sturt University in Bathurst in 2017 Jack Thomson was ask to give the reflections of graduate.

His speech is as follows:

Good Morning and Congratulations, to the friends, family, parents, support networks and of course first years. You have made it, welcome to the rest of your life. Welcome to opportunities that people in a city based university would not be able to comprehend. Welcome to the good time and the times when you miss home and your friends from school. Welcome to small class sizes intermate and big insane parties. Welcome to a place where you will learn something new everyday, whether it be in class, about yourself or about the world we live in. Welcome to CSU and Welcome to Bath Vegas.

As you know, my name is Jack Thomson and I graduated last year with my second degree, a Bachelor of Communication Theatre Media and a degree in Public Relations. It is my absolute honour to stand before you all and reflect on my home of the past 6 years. Over these six years I met a lot of amazing people, a lot of life long friends. From nurses to engineers, teachers to theatre makers, paramedics to party people, to people just like you and in this time of nervousness, excitement with a new journey ahead that is unknown, let me tell you I know you can do it. The feelings that you are feeling now, they have all been thought before, through before by people have succeeded.

Now that some guy you have never met before has told you that you can do it, he is now about to tell you how. I have three things that I want to tell you all in the short time I have here today.

Number One - Say Yes to every opportunity that comes your way.

Attending, studying and living at a rural university, the common perception is that you won’t get the same opportunities that a city based bigger university student will. And it’s true you won’t get the same opportunities, you will get more. Sitting in this room, on this day, six years ago I never knew of the amazing opportunities that would come my way. I have been lucky enough to say yes and take part in three CSU Global trips to learn and study abroad. From my first trip to Bolivia to work as a part of a multi lingual circus group, to trailing a communications program in villages in East Timor for the East Timorese government and to working in Chang Mai looking into thai theatre and the impact technology has on the communities within the province. These were all experience of a life time has never been because I was the brightest in my class, or have burning desire to travel. No it was because I said yes, when I was asked if I wanted to try something new. This is something I believe we all can do.

For five of my six years here in Bathurst I was a diggings boy, and I was lucky enough to be apart of the diggings RA team. I applied to be Head Resident in my final year, for which I was offered the opportunity to take on the role in Towers. Moving Res and saying Yes was the best decision I have made in my life to date. Being able to lead a community of legend just like yourselves was an experience I will hold dearly forever. But one I could have very easily said no too, but we dont grow from no, we don’t grow from staying the same. The importance of student leadership is amazing for the development of everyone here at university, for those of you living on campus you will know this from your RA’s and those of you that are down town you will see this with the Oweek leaders, coordinators and the various Club excutives. These are all vital parts of your time here so use them to your full advantage or even strive to be them. I have been lucky enough to hold all these positions and it has got me to where I am today. To my dream job, I am currently the Asia Pacific University Relations Advisor for the Golden Key International Houuor Society, travelling and working with student leaders to aid in the creation and facilitation of everyday leaders, one of my core motives and an underlying framework of every decision I make. So Say Yes, you will never know where it will get you.

Tip Number Two - Try everything once.

This week is your week to try something you have never tried before, and how exciting is that for you. If you want to walk around the whole campus to find your favourite spot to read, do it. If you want to kiss a boy or a girl you have only just met at uni bar, do it. If you want to stay up all night on talking to your new neighbours, going from neighbours to best friends over night, do it. If you wanna do some sneaky skypes back home because you’re home sick, do it. This week is going to be like no other, go to all your classes, sign up to everything and have the best time. But once the week is over, the fun doesn’t stop. If you like rugby league, sign up to be a mungo or mungal. If you like theatre, join bats. If you are studying paramedics, join sewspa. Just do some, try something. The best part is you dont have to like it, you just have to give it a go.

Go out, try everything once, if you don’t like it don’t do it again. It is as easy as that, but it could be the first step towards your future career like it was for me. CSU used to hold s music fesival on campus every year, and they we looking for an event manager. I like music, I can throw a party I thought to myself. I applied for the position, was lucky enough to get it. It was the first step on my journey to my job now, where I run events for university students in Australia and New Zealand. So once again, try everything once.

Third and Finally. You do you.

Being the head resident of Towers in 2016, I was surrounded by an amazing group of people and able to run a week long public relations campaign ‘You do You’ which received local and national media coverage.

Which was cool, but the meaning behind the week was better. Be yourself and it unconsciously allows others to do the same. Its simple, you don’t have to be who you were at school here you don’t have to like something because it is the cool thing to do. You just have to do you. Be proud that you're here, be proud that you are you. Bathurst is a very accepting place of everyone, so be unique it’s what will make you friends that will last a lifetime.

With that cherish your this week, and your time in Bathurst. Have fun with your new friends. Study hard, play hard, join in, use your time the way you want it. Dream big, believe in yourself and there is no imagining what you can become. And I hope that you know, there are no strangers in this room, just heaps of friends you haven’t met yet.

Thank you.