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#WEMELD Meets: Tah Ai Jia

Meld Magazine

Thu Dec 10 2020

Ai Jia

Ai Jia is our copyeditor and content creator! As an aspiring journalist she likes do delve into social and cultural issues in Malaysia.

Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself (name, major/career, a bit more about what you do at meld, etc.)

Hey! My name is Ai Jia and I’m doing a Bachelor of Arts at unimelb, double majoring in Creative Writing & Media and Communications. I’m a content creator and copyeditor at Meld, so I do assigned writing, pitch article ideas and copyedit pieces before publishing them! 🙂

Q: Why did you decide to join Meld community?

I decided to join to gain more experience in journalism as well as build a community for internationals in Melbourne. I know how it feels like to leave home and enter a whole new environment, and what that can do to your mental health without the proper support system. I want to be part of the support system international students need.

Q: What support would you like to see for international students? Is there enough being done right now?

I feel like support for international students who are struggling to make friends and longlasting connections. Support for money management is important too!

Q:What challenges have you faced as an international student in Australia?

money management! I didn’t grow up with monthly allowances (i got weekly allowances for school, and outside of school my mom just gave me money when i asked), so coming to Melbourne and learning how to manage $600 a month was difficult.

Q: Why do you think it’s important to increase the awareness of the challenges that international students are facing?

I feel like it’s important to know that you’re not alone. Sometimes, when you’re struggling in a foreign country, you might feel like your struggles are insignificant because you should feel grateful to be able to study abroad anyway? So increasing awareness to the fact that no, you’re struggles are not invalid is the first step for international students to realise that maybe they do need support and why taking care of their mental and physical health is so important.

Do you want to be come part of the #WEMELD campaign? Follow us on Instagram and send us a DM.

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