International Student Awards - Preeti Maharjan

Preeti portrait cropped

Preeti Maharjan was Highly Commended in the Community Engagement category of StudyAdelaide's International Student Awards.

From Nepal, Preeti is currently studying a Master of Public Health at the University of Adelaide under an Australia Awards Scholarship.

During her time in Adelaide, Preeti has volunteered in many different organisations, from government to not-for-profit to university clubs and aged care centres. Among many other things, she’s entered data for SA Health, volunteered as a mentor at a camp for disadvantaged children, planted trees and raised funds, and conducted group activities for aged care residents. As the Professional Development Director at the University’s Rotaract Club, Preeti has organised sessions for members on resume writing, using LinkedIn, effective public speaking, mind mapping and managing stress and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

 

Tell us about your International Student Award.

I have volunteered with various communities in Adelaide ranging from disadvantaged children, international and local students, elderly people, and government professionals. I volunteered at SA Health to create a chronic irreversible lung diseases database. I volunteered as mentor for disadvantaged children during a summer camp with Puddle Jumper.

I have also worked with the Adelaide University Rotaract Club as Professional Development Director, where I organised various professional development sessions for club members and presented club projects at other Rotaract and rotary meetings. 

In addition, I worked with The Leprosy Mission Australia in various fund-raising activities to help people affected by leprosy in countries such as Nepal, Timor-Leste, Papua New Guinea, and India. I worked with The Leprosy Mission Nepal before coming to Australia, which included talking at different meetings, churches, and luncheon programs for raising funds for people affected by leprosy. I also volunteered with Southern Cross Care as a lifestyle assistant for about five months.

 

What is your goal once you have completed your degree?

I am planning to go back to Nepal and work for the community helping people in need. I aspire to become a pragmatic public health leader applying the knowledge and experience gained from university and community engagement during my two years in Adelaide.

 

What do you miss about your home country?

I miss my family and home-cooked food, particularly during our biggest festivals such as Dashain and Tihar in October/November. 

 

Preeti with kangaroo

Quickfire questions!

Zoom or in-person?

Quite easy to pick - in-person!

 

Adelaide Hills or Adelaide's beaches?

I would choose Adelaide's beaches as Nepal is a landlocked country, but I love to stay in the Adelaide Hills during my break as I have Australian family there.

 

Home delivery or home-cooked?

Home-cooked.

 

What's your go-to study music?

Tibetan meditation music. 

 

3 things you won't miss about COVID-19 restrictions?
  • Boredom
  • Stress and anxiety
  • My addiction to COVID-19 news 

 

3 things you won't forget about COVID-19?
  • Resilience
  • My friends and family who stuck with me and checked my wellbeing regularly
  • Heaps of online meetings
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