Introducing Myself :)

[Demi1]

Hi everyone 🙂

My name is Demi, I am 18 years old and currently on Study Vacation before commencing my HSC Examinations. I love reading in my free time, and spending time with friends; usually on an unusual adventure such as going on bushwalking or getting up at 4:30am to watch the sunrise.

If you asked me six months ago what I wanted to be when I grew up, the answer would constantly change. It varied from artist, to photographer, to teacher, journalist; even author. But, recently I experienced a series of events that allowed me to recognise my strength is listening/ supporting others. Due to this I have decided to strive for a ridiculously high ATAR and hopefully study Psychology at University next year. The events leading to this decision, although confronting and traumatic, have allowed me to adapt my lifestyle and mindset into one that is purely positive. I am lucky, that with medication and the constant support from my psychologist/GP and friends that I can reflect upon what happened and seek out the positives. It is difficult at times but being able to do that has kept me going through the challenging days.

I hope that through this chatroom I am able to help others reflect on their own experiences and develop a mindset that will give them comfort when times are tough, and everything around them seems negative. I hope that I can help you find light in the darkness, and provide you with the support you deserve.

I know we've never met but I am so thankful for all of you, taking the step to sign up and create an amazing support network for everyone here/ every future member in BB 🙂

It was nice to meet you guys.

Demi

P.S more than happy to talk about my experiences in detail- just wanted to keep this introduction short and sweet 🙂

[Demi1]

Hi Steph, it is lovely to meet you!

Definitely not a fail, I stupidly in my fatigued state of mine requested to have my first and last name as my user and got rejected for breaching privacy rules ahah, guess Demi1 will have to do 🙂 That's amazing, congratulations on finishing your degree! I also think they are amazing people and admire their commitment and unwavering support/ care for others. I'm so sorry to hear about your struggles with GAD and depression during University but I am also thankful that you are now in a place where you are able to share your experience and help others who are looking for someone as supportive as yourself 🙂

It is so nice to meet you/ get to know a bit about you, and yes, you will definitely be seeing a lot of me around here *insert thumbs up emoji*

[Guest_322]

Hi Demi,

Thanks for proactively responding to all our replies. It's great to hear from you again 😊

Any time. Hope the HSC exams go well, and moreover, I hope you're doing something nice to celebrate when it's over!

Aw that's very kind of you to say. I appreciate being called knowledgeable but I'm still figuring it out ha, ha . I definitely don't have it all figured out (not even close) and I'm okay with that because life is for learning 😉

Hey, I would love to see you on the "Fellow psych students on the forum" thread. Dizzy gave some great advice on that thread so keep an eye out for her name. Also James and Zeal (who is also studying psych) gave some wonderful suggestions that are particularly relevant if you want to do honours, which judging from the high ATAR you're aiming for, I'm guessing you're aiming for.

Dottie x

[Guest_322]

Aw thanks Paul. Back at you; you're a legend in your own right.

Demi, I'm sure you've already noticed but Paul is one of our champions 😊

[Kazzl]

Hi Demi - I too want to welcome you aboard, how very good to meet you! Please feel free to jump in and post where ever you want. And of course keep posting here if you would like to share more of your own story.

I think it would help many if our folks to hear more of how you have changed your mindset and become focused on the positive. That's a wonderful achievement.

We also have a couple of virtual cafes in the social zone - one is for young people, called Friends cafe. They are great places to make friends on the forum and get to know people.

I look forward to seeing you around and, again, welcome!

Kaz

[Guest_322]

Hi Demi,

Sorry, your question about becoming a community champion got a bit lost amongst all the posts.

In the Welcome and Orientation forum, there's a thread called "Introducing...Our Community Champions." If you open that thread, you will see a post by Chris B (Community Manager) who outlines how you can become a champion. You'll see a link in his post about contacting him offline for more information (so follow that link).

Hope this helps 😊

Dottie

[blondguy]

Hi Demi, I have been watching your thread take off really well. (and thankyou heaps Dottie for the info above)

As Dottie mentioned Chris Banks is the Community Manager (of forum development) but from what I have seen tonight from a volunteer's point of view.....Go For It.. send an email expressing your interest (once you have a read of whats required from a community champion)

Great thread and introduction Demi. Its a treat when we have someone that is as pro-active and enthusiastic as yourself on the forums

Happy Thursday to you, Paul

[Demi1]

Hey again Dotti 🙂

Thank you so much for wishing me luck; I'm planning in a pretty simple/classic Aussie celebration where a few mates and I will have a bbq and bonfire, and spend the night reminiscing on High School and discussing our future plans.

'Life is for leaning,' that is a lovely way to look at it Dotti. May quote you on that in my Discovery essay 😛 I'll definitely keep an eye out for Dizzy, James and Zeal!

I'm currently looking at a double-degree Bachelor of Arts-Psychology/Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (in which I will then, hopefully, gain the marks needed to complete my Honours, then Masters.

Thank you for reply 🙂

Demi

[Demi1]

Hello Kaz,

It's lovely to meet you! Thank you so much for your warm welcome; I'm so glad to be a part of your wonderful team. Where exactly am I able to find the 'Social section/Virtual cafes?' I am definitely excited to get to know more people and make as many friends/ support as many people as I am able to 🙂

Demi

[Demi1]

Hello again Paul,

Thank you so much for you support and utterly prompt replies! It makes me feel so welcome and encouraged knowing you are all so active within this online community; I hope I can bring as much support and commitment to the table as you all have shown me 🙂

Thank you so much for the encouragement, I'll send Chris an email now 🙂

Just curious, is this the correct thread for me to continue to share my experiences or am I supposed to do that on the specific forum it relates to (e.g. suicide.)

Hope you all have a lovely day, I'm sure you'll hear from me again soon 🙂

Demi

[Guest_322]

Hi Demi,

I second Paul's comments. Go for it if you're interested in becoming a Community or Youth Champion. And there's no harm in contacting Chris B for details; nothing to lose and much to gain 😊 Wish you luck with the email.

Your planned BBQ bonfire celebration sounds great! Nice and chill, and more importantly, you'll get to spend time with your friends.

And no worries at all. All the best with your Discovery essay.

B.Arts-psych/B.Early Childhood Education sounds very interesting! I imagine there's a lot of overlap between the 2, and where they don't overlap, they probably complement each other.

Hope you reach your goal of gaining entry into honours then masters 😊

But just so you don't get any nasty surprises at the end of your degree. At some unis- and it will be different from uni to uni- if you're doing a double degree but your psych stream doesn't have the honours embedded in it, your whole degree changes if you get into honours.

So at some unis, say if you're doing B.Arts-psych/B.ECC, there's a possibility that if you do honours, your degree becomes B.Psych(hon) and you lose the B.ECC double.

This is because some (not all) unis only recognise certain double degrees with the honours already embedded in it. Typically, it's B.law/B.psych(hon), B.Commerce/B.Psych(hon) and a handful of other ones. So if it's not one of the handful with the hon already embedded in it, some unis have weird rules.

Like if you were studying B. Arts-Psych/B.Law and transferred to B.Psych(hon)/B.Law then that's recognised because B.Psych(hon)/B.Law exists as a stand alone double. But for ones outside of the usual psych doubles with law, commerce, business admin, sciences then there are sometimes weird rules at certain unis.

Sorry, it's kind of confusing. Maybe check first with the academic staff at Macquarie uni e.g. Ask them what happens to your degree if you do that particular double and do honours. Sometimes an option is to graduate with, say, B.Arts-psych/B.ECC then come back to do honours in your 5th year.

Hope this wasn't too confusing.

Dottie x