I’ve been drawn to psychology ever since I decided to help people in support of their mental health and give back to the community. Growing up in Iran where psychologists were uncommon I was even more encouraged to pursue psychology as a career. I first heard about the Gold Coast from my dad who showed me the beautiful pictures of nature and life on the coast so I was determined to come here. I fell in love with the Gold Coast at first sight, the amount of support and love the locals here showcase to everyone and how welcoming the nature of it is, seems pretty incredible.

Griffith University is one the best universities for studying psychology with plenty of student support, so it’s a really good fit for me. The best part about living and studying on the Gold Coast is the people I have met along my journey who make my life so much better. I’m really looking forward to growing more as a person and making long-lasting friends through the Mayor’s Student Ambassador Program while gaining new skills. I’m even more excited to make more connections and widen my network as an Ambassador. My biggest goal is to learn something new every day while helping others through the experience of this wonderful program.

I am from Hangzhou, the capital city of Zhejiang Province on the southeast coast of China. Hangzhou is one of the seven ancient capitals of China and is a garden city with four distinct seasons. Often referred to as ‘paradise on earth’ Hangzhou was described by Italian explorer Marco Polo as “the finest and most luxurious city in the world". West Lake is a symbol of the city and was made a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2011. When I was a kid, I had already heard the name “Gold Coast” in Chinese, it is such a beautiful name and I couldn’t forget it. At that time, I told myself that I must travel to this city one day. This wish became a little seed in my heart that sprouted when I saw the name again as I was looking to choose a university. 

When I arrived on the Gold Coast I discovered that it is far more relaxing than I could ever have imagined. During my summer break at the end of last year I often got up early to watch the sunrise and in doing so discovered how many people were up and about surfing, walking their dogs along the beach, boating and jogging. This city has such a wonderful and vivid coastal life. It’s very convenient and comfortable living here, not like the hustle and bustle of other cities, the Gold Coast has a special breath of life. It’s a city that merges modern elements while being respectful of nature.

Becoming a Mayor’s Student Ambassador is an opportunity to get involved in student life across many institutions while meeting students from different countries and backgrounds with different cultures. I believe that the Program will help me to enhance my abilities, such as my communication skills and time management. For me life is all about experience. Having worked for several years after graduating from my college in China, I really appreciate the chance of studying on the Gold Coast, which is such a stunning and vibrant city. I enjoy meeting people and appreciate the energy and inspiration they provide to me. As an Ambassador I want to explore this wonderful city on a deeper level through this amazing program and in the process share the positive energy we gain from the experience.

I was born in Colombia’s capital city Bogotá. It’s a peculiar city because it doesn’t have seasons, most of the time it has the same weather. It can be a chaotic and stressful city but at the same time it offers variety, culture, events and opportunities. I grew up, did my professional studies and lived very important stages of my life there, but always wanted to live in a city near the ocean. Colombia is an incredible country, it has many things to offer, its people are friendly, fun and always smiling. You can do many activities, the food is delicious, it is a place where it is impossible to get bored. It is home to good coffee, the sea of ​​seven colours, Latin music and dance, artists and wonderful landscapes.

The first time I heard about the Gold Coast was at the agency that helped with my visa process. They offered this city and I had never heard of it, however when they told me that it was a coastal city and that I could live near the ocean, I knew it was the perfect city for me, as it was another dream that I could fulfil. When I finished university I was already working in my profession. Still, I wanted a better opportunity, but on the search in every interview, they requested English, and I didn’t know the language. Yes, we studied English through school but I found it a difficult language to learn. A friend suggested the idea of travelling to Australia to learn the language. What I didn’t know is that I was going to fall in love with this country.

The city of Gold Coast offers a perfect balance between time to study and also to have fun. It is not a big city so it is easy to access anywhere, it is close to the mountains and the beach so you can easily change scenery. It is a quiet city and you don't feel the stress like in big cities. The Gold Coast has been my home over the last few years, giving me some very beautiful moments and I feel that I must give something back. Being an Ambassador is a great way to do that. I want to know more about the city, how it works and what it has to offer students who want to come here and study.

Hong Kong is a very business oriented and cosmopolitan city where both Western and Asian culture weave together. I grew up in a close-knit family there with my younger brother and we had a wonderful life. Studying social work is a natural fit for me because it’s an inclusive field that connects people from all over the world. The Gold Coast feels like one long vacation to me. I love the rhythm of life here and the relaxed attitude of the city’s people who are very friendly.

When I first arrived on the Gold Coast my sole focus was to study. I didn’t expect that there would be a lot of opportunities for developing my professional network before I graduate which is very important, especially as an international student where opportunity is really an open door for us to become more exposed to the community and experience local culture. I joined the Mayor’s Student Ambassador Program because I want to meet more like-minded people and share our journey together. I’m really looking forward to exploring the Gold Coast community through unique experiences and to spread the positive vibes to show people that nothing is impossible!

I am from Bangalore, basically India's version of Silicon Valley. Bangalore is also known as the "Garden City", so a lot of my childhood was spent in parks or long road trips across the country with the family. As one of India's cultural melting pots, growing up in Bangalore gave me the unique opportunity to experience different cultures and helped me become more accepting and inclusive as a person. I actually always thought I wanted to be a chef but over time I realised that it just wasn't for me, but I had always been fascinated with the hospitality industry and love curating experiences for people so I thought both these courses would help me the most.

I didn't know much about the Gold Coast when I started doing research on potential colleges but I had heard of Griffith University. Once I saw pictures of the Gold Coast I was awestruck and knew that there was really no other place I would want to study! My first priority was always the quality of the program - I was looking for a place that would allow me to study hospitality and Griffith had a reputable program that I believed would really challenge me. I also wanted a change from the city life that I had grown up in and so this really presented a great opportunity for me. My first impression was that the Gold Coast was a lot slower and quieter than I had initially imagined, it definitely took me a little while to sink into the lifestyle. Now after a year I never want to leave this beautiful city!

There’s so much to do and see here – there’s always a new beach to discover or trail to hike. It’s also a place that is very culturally diverse and has opened me up to a host of new experiences. The Mayor’s Student Ambassador Program offers students a chance to get involved in the community but at the same time provides us with a chance to grow professionally and individually. There is always so much to learn from your peers and other professionals that influence your perspectives and alter your decisions in the future. The only way to move forward in life is to keep learning, and what better way than with my fellow Ambassadors and all of the opportunities that come along with this program.

I was born in China and grew up with my grandparents and my father. It was a very difficult time for me and I struggled to cope with my family life. At 13 I moved to Australia with my mum which has been far more enjoyable for me as Australia is so much more relaxed. When I was in high school I had some family issues but was fortunate that a social worker was able to help me manage my problems. I knew then that I wanted to help others in similar situations, so I decided to become a social worker. Compassion and knowledge are the key motivators in pursuing my career.

We lived in Townsville when we first moved to Australia. Coming to the Gold Coast has been an eye opener for me because I didn’t expect to see so many beautiful beaches and the people are also incredibly friendly. I love this city and the supportive environment here. I feel it’s a city that puts people first, which is rare. It’s not just the support I have received as a student, but the level of help for others in the community like seniors is excellent.

There are many challenges in life and one of the reasons I chose to become an Ambassador was to push me beyond my own limitations and develop my self-confidence. I’m looking forward to the many opportunities that the program provides, but more so personally I want to develop my weaknesses like my interpersonal and communication skills by turning them into strengths! 

The Gold Coast has been my home since I was born and throughout the years I’ve been lucky to experience all that the city has to offer, including the beautiful natural environment; the social aspects of the city's cafes, restaurants and nightlife; as well as embracing multicultural events and multilingual festivities. As a passionate and motivated Gold Coast student I took interest in becoming a Mayor’s Student Ambassador so that I could share my experiences through the incredible lifestyle and opportunities available to me on a global platform.

Living and studying on the Gold Coast is the ultimate dream. Each day is a new, exciting adventure and each and every day is filled with new opportunities to learn, make new connections and discover something new. The Gold Coast is not only my home, but my favourite place to be and I cannot recommend it more as the perfect place to visit, study and live.

I chose my degree because I want to use my business knowledge and skills to market projects which contribute to the common good and have the possibility to change the world for the better. This year, I am most looking forward to opening more doors in my life as a Gold Coast student while exploring each and every possibility fully, along with like-minded people and incredible mentors within the industry. One of my biggest personal goals, and what I would like to achieve most from participating in the program this year is to step out of my comfort zone and challenge myself in everything I do. By challenging myself daily, I believe it will provide me with the best opportunity to grow my skillset and develop my capabilities.

Denmark is a pretty safe and cold country to grow up in. It’s a country that provides so many opportunities as we have free education and you even get paid to study, so you can study anything you want. I wanted to get out of the bubble I’d grown up in, but I had massive doubts about whether to go to the USA or Australia as I hadn’t been to either country and had no idea what it would be like to live there. I asked mentors, friends, family, etc… and everyone just seemed to recommend Australia. The next decision was where in Australia? I started to read articles from travellers and others studying abroad in Australia and I first heard about the Gold Coast when I was researching online for the right university. Griffith University had the Master’s degree I was looking for and I could see that it was close to the beach, so I took a leap of faith and here I am!

I’ve always dreamed about studying and living abroad in an English-speaking country to improve my English and to be surrounded by another culture than what I was raised with, so coming to the Gold Coast is certainly a dream come true. I was super surprised when I arrived to discover how beautiful this place is. You can go to the beach, you can see mountains in the far distance and the sunrise and sunset colours are some of the most amazing and most beautiful things I have ever, ever, EVER seen! The other aspect that’s really noticeable is that the people on the Gold Coast just seem to be way happier than most people around the world. The Gold Coast is really an amazing place where you can do anything you want – it’s so beautiful and inspiring and that’s one of the things I like most about living and studying here.

I always look for opportunities to grow as a person both professionally and personally, which is why I applied to become a Mayor’s Student Ambassador. I cannot express enough how much I seriously am in love with this city, so building a professional network here was a very important consideration for me. I want to become better at networking with people while also creating a bigger network here, but more than anything I want to grow as a person and extend myself in unfamiliar surroundings. Ideally, I’d like to start my own business one day, but first I want to know what it’s like to work full-time within a marketing role in a business here on the Gold Coast. Ultimately I want to inspire people to go for their dreams and travel the world. 

My hometown is Pézenas, a beautiful town with a lot of medieval history in the south of France. It’s a very festive place with a rich cultural heritage and an ancient castle that is part of the old city centre that draws lots of tourists. I felt like I needed a change in my life and wanted to learn new skills. I love working with my hands, preferably with wood and outdoors – where better to do that than the Gold Coast! With the extended three year post study working visa available to Gold Coast students this was very appealing to me. I also wanted to study in an Australian city that was big enough to provide me with employment opportunities when I graduated.

I really appreciate being close to the ocean and have started to learn how to surf and kite surf. One of my favourite things to do here is going for sunset walks at Burleigh and The Spit which always provide amazing photo opportunities with lovely shades of pink and blue. I also enjoy walking in the hinterland rainforests and visiting the farmers markets on the weekend. I love how close to nature this city is – it’s full of pleasant discoveries.

It’s hard to nominate one single aspect of the Mayor’s Student Ambassador Program, there’s so much that I’m looking forward to this year. To be honest I’m a little impatient, so I just want to enjoy every single experience and make the most of this opportunity. Eventually I’d like to become a builder and start a business on the Gold Coast using my marketing and management skills from France, possibly creating a partnership with TAFE where I could develop a program to help international and domestic students studying a trade.

We moved to the Gold Coast from Brisbane when I was about six years old. Our family had always made regular trips to the Gold Coast as our favourite holiday location, now I’m so lucky that I get to call this place home. I was extremely excited when I found out we were moving here because I loved the Gold Coast so much. It’s a wonderful community where I feel so loved and accepted. The Gold Coast holds such an incredible vibe too which I haven’t felt anywhere else. There are so many opportunities here to do everything I love, from the immense amount of sport and other clubs available to the wide range of activities and facilities accessible – like the theme parks, beaches and the natural environment.

The Mayor’s Student Ambassador Program is an opportunity to be a part of something much bigger than myself and it’s also a great way to give back to the community. I see the Ambassador’s role as a way to help build the Gold Coast’s reputation on the world stage while at the same time I can develop both personally and professionally. I want to become more confident in myself and my decision-making skills while taking on the challenges the program presents. I’m also looking forward to building my relationships and networks on the Gold Coast through the opportunities within the program.

After I graduate from school I would love to study psychology and then potentially delve deeper and study forensic psychology. I’m fascinated by brain functions and reactions, so these fields are of exceptional interest to me.  My other aspiration is that I really want to help people, whether that involves becoming closer to my community or working in the wider world I’d love to know that I helped be the change in someone’s life.