By Jason Xu and YT Wong (FEIT iAmbassadors)
Jessie Nguyen’s international student journey is shaped by a unique cultural background. Born and raised in the stunning French island of New Caledonia, she grew up in a tight knit community where both her parents were also raised. While she proudly acknowledges her Vietnamese heritage, Jessie feels that her identity is more deeply rooted in New Caledonia, calling her true home. Growing up in a multicultural environment gave Jessie a global perspective and the adaptability to thrive as an international student.
Jessie set foot at UTS in 2020, beginning her journey in Australia with the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) majoring in Biomedical Engineering. When asked about three things which reflected and resonated with her, Jessie chose a coffee machine, an ant and a bowl of Vietnamese Pho. She confessed as a morning person, this is symbolic to her productive, energised mornings. Ants are known for teamwork and collaboration, reflective on Jessie’s style of work. Pho, for Jessie, is a comforting reminder of her heritage, something she developed a stronger understanding of after moving to Australia.
Jessie’s life motto
Always do your best, not necessarily to be the best, but so you have options.
Jessie Nguyen
When asked about her life motto, Jessie shared a phrase that came from her mother.
She explained that her mother’s words remind her that excellence is not about competition but about personal growth and keeping doors – opportunities open.
Reflecting on the past
Like many international students, Jessie experienced unique hardships during COVID-19, particularly impacting her first year. Social isolation was tough, but Jessie chose positivity and resilience, using that period to focus deeply on academics, self-improvement and future planning.
“Looking back, I would have been more involved with the social aspect at UTS, maybe be more active with Biomed Society. But overall, it came out great and no regrets”.
Laying out a career pathway at UTS
Among the many highlights she had at UTS, her most cherished memories were in the Lucy Mentoring Program. “I absolutely loved the experience; my mentor was great, and you could say it was a breakthrough for me in understanding biomedical engineering in practice.” It was not only a positive experience, but an impactful one that changed the trajectory of her life.
The mentoring program allowed me to dive into a world outside of Biomedical research, working in the industry allows you to work collaboratively with people outside your field, and I found that was a better fit for me.
Jessie Nguyen on the Lucy Mentoring Program
Another experience she holds dear is group work at UTS, commenting “Many of the groupmates that I worked with at UTS have ended up in the same field, I get to see them sometimes at work!”. She recalled having worked on many exciting projects over the years and creating deep connections with her teammates, going on to becoming friends outside of class.
Looking forward
Jessie currently holds a position as a R&D Test Engineer at Nanosonics. Looking ahead, she is looking to accelerate and work even more collaboratively with stakeholders and engineers. Jessie emphasises that technical knowledge gave her a solid understanding and foundation at the field, and she would like to challenge herself to work on interpersonal skills.
Tips for future success
Jessie passed on two tips as an alumnus:
- Don’t be afraid to mix around: “Make the most out of being an international student, talk to people outside of your circle, step out of your comfort zone.”
- Push through and you will be rewarded: “Don’t forget about your ambitions at the beginning, work hard on them by doing your best.”
