International Student Awards - Preeti Maharjan

Preeti portrait cropped

Preeti Maharjan was Highly Commended in theÌýCommunity EngagementÌýcategory of StudyAdelaide's International Student Awards.

From Nepal, Preeti is currently studying a Master of Public Health at the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide under an ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ 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 ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥â€™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.Ìý

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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 ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ Rotaract Club as Professional Development Director, where I organised various professional development sessions for club members and presentedÌýclub projects at other Rotaract and rotary meetings.Ìý

In addition, I worked with The Leprosy Mission ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ 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 ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥, which includedÌýtalking atÌýdifferent 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.

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What is your goal once you have completed your degree?

I am planning to go back to NepalÌýand 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 inÌýAdelaide.

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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.Ìý

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Preeti with kangaroo

Quickfire questions!

Zoom or in-person?

Quite easy to pick - in-person!

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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 ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n family there.

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Home delivery or home-cooked?

Home-cooked.

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What's your go-to study music?

Tibetan meditation music.Ìý

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

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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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