Q. Could you briefly introduce yourself?
A. Hello, my name is Soyoung Park, and I was born in 2000. I majored in design and am currently working in Australia while pursuing my dreams.
Q. How did you end up coming to Australia?
A. I moved to Australia with my parents when I was in Year 6 of primary school. Now, I live here independently without my parents.
Q. What was the hardest part of your early days studying abroad?
A. I attended St Hilda’s School on the Gold Coast, and I was the only Asian student there. I couldn’t speak English at all. For the first two to three years, I often felt isolated and bullied, cried a lot, and frequently wanted to return to Korea. Over time, however, I adapted, made friends, and my English naturally improved.
Q. How was your university life in Australia?
A. I chose to major in design because art was what I loved most. The major suited me well, and I was very satisfied with it. However, since English is my second language, it took me longer to understand lectures, so I had to invest much more time in assignments and exam preparation than others.
Q. What was your first job-hunting experience like?
A. When a major flood hit Brisbane, the power went out and I had to stay in a hotel for about a month. During that time, I thought, “I shouldn’t waste this time—maybe I should at least go to Sydney.” There, I saw friends who were already employed and building their careers, which really made me reflect on my own situation.
So I packed my bags and moved to Sydney to seriously look for a job. But since I had never even worked part-time before, I didn’t receive any responses at all. My parents suggested that I return to Korea, and I was so discouraged that I actually booked a return flight.
Still, after spending so many years in Australia without ever having worked, I felt deep regret. So I told myself, “Let me at least give it everything for the final two weeks before I leave.” Every single day, I planned my route, took buses and Ubers, and handed out resumes anywhere I could apply. Over two weeks, I visited more than 100 places and sometimes carried over 50 printed resumes a day.
There was one design company I truly wanted to join. I applied twice online but heard nothing back. One day, in heavy rain, I went there in person but couldn’t find the office, so I returned the next day. I knocked on the door, met the CEO, and sincerely told them, “I don’t have experience yet, but if you teach me, I will work harder than anyone else.” Thankfully, they saw my passion positively and gave me an interview opportunity. When I later received the offer, I was so overwhelmed with emotion that I cried on the way home. I still remember that moment vividly.
Q. What was your experience like at your first job?
A. It was an Australian printing company where I worked on school diaries, posters, and leaflets for schools across the country. I also participated in an educational materials project with a children’s welfare organization in Melbourne. For the 2024 and 2025 textbooks, my colleague and I completed the full layout and overall design together.
If what I learned at university was 5, what I learned in the field was 95—that’s how big the gap felt. Of course, when I made mistakes, I sometimes heard very blunt comments from my supervisor like, “If I knew it would be like this, I wouldn’t have hired you,” and I cried a lot. But those experiences helped me grow quickly. In the end, I was even offered a permanent residency sponsorship, which I am incredibly grateful for.
Q. How did Australian workplace culture differ from Korea’s?
A. In general, Australia felt more direct and honest. If there was a problem, people addressed it immediately and tried to solve it. In Korea, because hierarchy and reporting structures are so important, you often have to think carefully about who to speak to first. I can’t say which is better, but the cultural differences were definitely very noticeable.
Q. What are your future goals?
A. My biggest goal is to obtain permanent residency and settle in Australia. I ran nonstop through my student years and job-hunting period, but now that things are becoming more stable, I’ve started to discover more things I want to do. I’d like to challenge myself in new areas such as marketing and planning and continue growing through diverse experiences.
Q. What advice would you give based on your own experience?
A. Above all, I believe confidence is the most important thing. There is no end to learning, and no one is ever truly perfect. If you have a determined mindset, a path will eventually open for you. Rather than comparing yourself with others, I think it’s important to move forward steadily at your own pace, even if it takes longer.
Looking back, though, I do regret starting so late. If possible, I think it’s better to begin gaining experience as early as you can.
Those two weeks in Sydney—running around every single day handing out resumes—became a huge turning point in my life. Instead of worrying for a year, I believe it’s better to take action, even for just two weeks. If you challenge yourself with confidence and persistence, I truly believe good results will come. Everyone, stay strong!
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