UNAIR NEWS – Studying abroad is a dream for every student, including Princetta Nadja, a Law student at Universitas Airlangga. Through the IISMA program from the Ministry of Education and Culture, she had a dream come true. Nadja is pursuing a major in Communications and Sociology at the University of Auckland, one of the leading universities in New Zealand.

“IISMA motivates the awardees to pursue nonlinear majors. I think it’s important, we can learn new things outside our major. That’s what I’ve been doing. As the program progresses, I’ve found a passion in Communications and Sociology,” she said. To support the idea, the campus held wellness week. The event allows students to attend cooking classes or painting sessions to unwind and release stress caused by academic pressure.

During her stay in New Zealand, she learned a lot about the well-being culture. New Zealand people highly prioritize well-being. They believe that having a balanced lifestyle between work and leisure is a key element to a good life.

“I realize that humans are not just economic machines. Sometimes, if we’re too productive, we tend to neglect our physical and mental well-being. Eventually, we might become unproductive due to fatigue or illness. People here acknowledge that to work well, they need to rest well too. Toxic productivity is rarely found here,” she said.

Well-being in academics

Nadja shared her one of her experiences while working on a sociology coursework paper. She tried hard to write the paper. However, circumstances were not in her favor, causing her to submit the assignment late. To her surprise, the professor contacted her and offered help. Eventually, Nadja told the professor that she was trying to complete the assignment and requested an extension.

“The professor reached out to me and asked me to contact the counselor if needed. He kindly provided an extension without impacting the score. From there, I felt more motivated to work on my paper, something quite rare to experience in Indonesia,” said the Jember-origin student.

Joining uni’s volunteer club

She also participated in the university’s volunteer club which offers various fun activities. She planted trees, cleaned the beach, and joined the intersectional feminism panel. Such activities provided valuable experience for her as an international student.

“I love New Zealand, especially its beautiful nature. The volunteer program allows me to get back to the community that fits my passion. Besides, I get to meet many people whose passions align with mine,” she said.

Author: Rafli Noer Khairam

Editor: Khefti Al Mawalia