I have so many fond memories of my undergraduate days on the Waurn Ponds campus:
- Parking in the free paddock ‘carpark’ at the back of the campus (not so nice in the winter with all the mud – current students ought to feel lucky with the free space you have there now).
- Rocking up to my first psychology lecture in early 1995 to find 900+ peers joining me in a huge lecture space (which is STILL there!). It was so daunting, yet exciting at the same time.
- Studying alongside students who are now my colleagues at Deakin (Peter Miller and Arlene Walker).
- Being taught by wonderful and knowledgeable lecturers who knew my name.
- Driving to campus late at night to access the internet (often to chat).
- Sitting exams in the gym.
- Hanging around the cafe after classes just to socialise with friends.
- Sunday morning rowing on the Barwon River.
- Dancing and drinking into the night at Lamby’s, The Lyric and The Geelong Hotel (are any of these still open?).
Thank you so much Deakin Psychology for an amazing four years of study. Yes, you taught me about psychology and research methods, but you also reinforced the importance of being an inquisitive learner and critical thinker, to be collaborative and to believe in myself.
It was hard turning down the PhD scholarship with Psych, but when I left Deakin in 1998 to head up to Melbourne for my Masters and PhD on the advice of my Honours supervisor to ‘spread my wings’, I promised I would return to Deakin. After 25 years, I did just that.
Deakin has grown in physical size, but what I noticed when I started in my current role is that family feeling and sense of connection remains. THIS is what sets us apart from other unis, and we need to hold onto it. I am so proud to be a graduate of Deakin, and even prouder to be a staff member now.
