With their fantastic reputation, numerous connections complimented with a diverse and accomplished alumni, Western Sydney University is fortunate that it can hold new and interesting lectures and experiences for its current students that help them make important contacts for their network to utilise after university. In addition, these guest lectures can help show the students the pathways and opportunities that their current work will eventually afford them.
One such experience was granted to Bachelor of Communication’s Journalism students when Kumi Taguchi, a journalist currently working for ABC and ABC News who hosts Compass, stopped by to give a story on her life to the eager students as well as inform them of the opportunities that hard work and dedication, as well as following one’s passion can achieve. Taguchi also fielded questions from the students towards the end of the event.
Detailing the start of her college career, Taguchi spoke about how she was initially interested in music but ultimately decided it wasn’t for her. She spoke about the disappointment and guilt she faced when it came to wasting time and money afforded to a student, a feeling that may resonate with current students that have had to change their units or degrees because of various factors. The cost and loss of time can leave one feeling like they’ve been set back in life, and to overcome this is the first lesson she offers in her presentation, although it’s a mere footnote as she continues with her story. Clearly, the journalist is comfortable speaking to a crowd and has learned in her many years working in her field to make the most of her time. Continuing on with her focus on college, she revealed that she actually didn’t have too much of a focus on journalism which meant that as she worked through the field, she had to learn various aspects of the profession. However, by her own admission she didn’t think this necessarily set her back as she could progress with her opportunities regardless.
Although the entire presentation is too long to recap in this short report, the next half an hour saw stories of life as well as how she overcame specific limitations put in front of her in order to get where she currently is today. Interestingly, she pointed out that the pathway after university where you move on from your internship into a working position and work your way up the ladder is not necessarily realistic or representative of how things work in the real world, and it’s this real world experience that these kind of encounters provide to students that allow for them to prepare adequately for life after university. The presentation was helped by her obvious comfort and ease with which she speaks in front of a camera and was well-received by her audience who appeared to hang on to every word as she regaled them with life stories and first-hand experiences of professional life as a journalist.
You can find Kumi Taguchi hosting Compass on the ABC network at various times. Please check your local guide.
Western Sydney News (WSN) 