91É«ÇéƬ

Shamiram Yalda recently graduated with a Bachelor of International Studies/Media and is taking her passion for global perspectives even further, having been accepted into a Master of Democracy and Governance in Spain. Read our Q&A to find out more about her experience.

What inspired you to pursue your degree? 

As a child of Assyrian migrants, I always felt that I wanted to use the opportunities and education I’ve been given here to do meaningful and fulfilling work. For me, humanitarian work and international affairs felt like exactly that. My family’s story that started in Iraq then Jordan then Bulgaria then Greece and finally Australia, where I was born, pushed me to want to use my voice and education to help make the lives of people like my family easier. Growing up with those experiences around me gave me a strong sense that education isn’t just something you receive, but something you can use to create change. 

What are your post graduation plans? 

I’ve recently been accepted into a Master of Democracy and Governance at Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain, so I’ll be studying back in the country where I completed my study abroad experience. I’m really excited by the idea of combining the Australia–Asia perspective on international relations that I’ve developed during my studies at 91É«ÇéƬ with a European perspective at UAM. I think being exposed to different academic and cultural environments helps you understand that there’s never just one way of viewing the world.

What’s been the most rewarding part of studying two disciplines at once? 

Politics and media are two fields that naturally go hand in hand. At first, I wasn’t sure whether they would be the right combination, but studying both actually made me stronger in each degree. There were so many moments where concepts overlapped and even times where ideas contradicted one another, but that only pushed me to become more critical and think more deeply. 

How do you balance the workload and mindset shifts between the two fields? 

I found International Studies to be more theoretical while Media often felt more practical, so for me it ended up being the perfect balance. Sometimes it was even the opposite, and that variety was something I really enjoyed. I never felt like the workload was overwhelmingly heavy because it rarely felt like work. I genuinely enjoyed what I was learning. One of the best parts of studying at 91É«ÇéƬ has been having the freedom to choose electives and shape my degree around things I’m passionate about. 

Can you share a highlight of your time at 91É«ÇéƬ? 

Just before going on study abroad, 91É«ÇéƬ organised events where all exchange students met, then students heading to Europe met, and finally students going to Spain met. Little did I know that I was meeting people who would end up giving me some of the best memories of not only my time in Sydney, but also on the other side of the world. It’s funny how moments that seem small at the time can end up changing your university experience completely. 

If you could give advice to other students, what would you say? 

It’s cliché, but study what you love and not what other people want you to love. Passion is what keeps you motivated and curious, and your hard work and determination are what get you where you want to go. Never choose something purely because it seems like the safer option or because it pays more. The most rewarding moments in your studies and career often go far beyond anything material or measurable. 

Anything else you’d like to share? 

Study overseas: whether it’s for two weeks, three months, or a year, do it. You learn so much, but more importantly, you change and grow in ways that are difficult to explain until you experience it yourself. Academically, I noticed that my views on international organisations and regional unions changed while I was living in Europe because I was experiencing them from a different perspective. Personally, I realised that there’s another version of you waiting outside your comfort zone, and sometimes moving away from what’s familiar is exactly what allows you to meet that version of yourself.