Hailing from Malaysia, Hannani Hasnan, or Nani as everyone calls her, left the coastal town of Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia to study abroad at The University of Queensland (UQ) as an MARA sponsored student.
After graduating from a Bachelor of Communication majoring in Digital Media, Nani reflects on her time at UQ, her love for Brisbane, and how her studies helped her develop a passion for communications.
For the love of Brisbane
Famous across the globe for its pristine beaches, immaculate weather and laid-back vibes, Brisbane was a natural choice for Nani. However, its sprawling neighbourhoods and hidden gems are what made Nani fall in love with the city.
“There is always a new part of the city you’ve never seen before. You think you’ve explored every square of the city, but on a random Thursday afternoon, you’d randomly stumble on a new little space to eat lunch, a new patch of sunlight on your skin,” she says.
“I love that it’s so convenient to get everywhere and the adventure of figuring which bus to take, and which stop to go to, and when you find yourself lost, people are very happy to help point you in the right direction."
"People here are so warm and so open with their compliments, and I think that’s something I’d love to carry on long after I leave uni.”
UQ’s hands-on approach
Ranked #1 in Queensland for Arts and Humanities, Nani was drawn to UQ’s hands-on approach to learning. Two stand-out moments included recording a podcast for her final assignment and completing an internship.
“We had to record the pilot episode of a podcast for the Media Platforms course. I didn’t anticipate the amount of planning that goes into mapping out the concept of the podcast and deciding if it’s good enough to span several episodes or seasons,” she explains.
“The best part of it for me was how I took the course towards the end of my degree, so looking into which concept or idea I wanted to explore was like looking back at all the things I’d learned over the years. I just loved the rush of when we were able to connect one concept to another."
Furthermore, an internship in her chosen field allowed Nani to gain first-hand experience and put theory into practice in exploring what a career in communications could look like.
“My favourite part [about the internship] was just being able to ask as many questions as I wanted and learning about how the skills and strategies, I learned applied to an actual job,” Nani said.
The importance of support
From having a strong support system to the free bubble tea at UQ, Nani recognises the importance of leaning on others and asking for help. After initially struggling to find an internship placement, Nani sought the help of her mentors for their advice.
“Course coordinators, Caroline and Sven, were very helpful in sharing their tips and their regular check-ins with us," she said.
"It was a time when I was refining my resume, cover letter and LinkedIn profile a lot and they equipped me with all the resources I could ever need to do so, and if I ever needed more, they connected me to more university employability resources than I never thought to reach out to."
But it wasn’t just the support of UQ’s teachers, coordinators and mentors that helped Nani along the way.
“The University always has different ways to make your day a little better depending on everyone’s needs. What might be my favourite is when the SES (student exam support) team hands out snacks in the library during finals season (only rivalled by free bubble tea),” Nani said.
A future in Communications
After completing her studies, Nani is eager to continue her exploration into the world of communications.
“I’d love to find a pathway to work in Media Policy one day, but in the meantime, I’d be content to explore as many facets of communication as possible," she says.
"I had a taste of the fast-paced industry when I did an internship in my final semester, and I’m eager to jump back in now that I’m officially a university graduate."
Nani’s advice for future students
“My advice would be to look for a university that would support you when you are working towards what you love no matter what that passion is, and once you find it, just go for it and get excited about that new phase of your life.
“In my experience, with the right kind of support and opportunities, that passion will be nurtured into something worth treasuring, and there’s nothing I treasure more than the memories of jumping headfirst into doing what I love in this little pocket of my youth.”
Creative communication specialists are increasingly in demand in our fast-paced, ever-changing digital landscape. Learn about UQ’s Bachelor of Communication.
