How Student Accommodation Shaped Amy’s Career and Life

When students think about university success, grades are often front of mind. But for Deakin alum and former Waurn Ponds Residential Leader, Amy, it was the life she built on Res - not her transcript - that opened the door to a career and life she never expected.

Moving from Maryborough, a country town in Victoria, to Deakin’s Waurn Ponds campus was no small step. Like many first-year students, Amy felt nervous about leaving behind family, friends, and the comfort of home.

I was terrified of leaving all my nearest and dearest behind,” she remembers. “But the moment I settled into Res, I felt instantly at home among the legends I met along the way.

In her first year, she chose a studio apartment in Building FJ at Deakin Res’ Waurn Ponds Campus, before stepping up as a Residential Leader in her second. What followed was more than a leadership role - it was the foundation of lifelong friendships and a community that would continue to shape her future.

For Amy, Res wasn’t just about a place to stay. It was a space where she could explore who she was outside of her family identity.

Coming from a smallish country town, I’d always been someone’s daughter or little sister. Res gave me the freedom to define who I was and how I wanted to show up in the world.

That freedom wasn’t without challenges - balancing study, friendships, fun, and personal growth often came with mistakes and a few existential questions. But through it all, she had a network of people who encouraged her to keep moving forward.

Having people who had my back during a time when mistakes were rife - but who still wanted to see me succeed - was the secret sauce of my time on Res. If you don’t feel like you have anyone in your life like this at the moment, be patient and keep looking in the right places - you will find them.

Amy Shay

These lessons of independence, resilience, and support would soon prove to be just as valuable as her academic qualifications.

How Student Accommodation Prepares You for Life and Career Success

When graduation rolled around, Amy admits she wasn’t entirely sure what her career would look like. Her grades, as she puts it, were “nothing to write home about,” and the graduate positions at big firms didn’t feel like the right fit.

Then came a moment of chance. While studying at the Waterfront library, she stumbled across a job advertisement at Deakin. Although the role didn’t perfectly match her career aspirations, encouragement from her mum prompted her to apply.

That decision set the course for the next five years. Working alongside “three very impactful women” who mentored and inspired her, Amy built a career at Deakin that taught her more than she ever imagined.

Applying for that job changed my life forever. I learnt just about everything I now know from those women. It reminded me that the opportunities that make the biggest impact don’t always look like the ones you planned for.

Her time on Res had already prepared her to adapt, take risks, and trust her instincts - qualities that continue to serve her well today.

Practical Advice for Today’s Students

Looking back, Amy is the first to admit she wouldn’t change a thing. Mistakes, detours, and unexpected opportunities became part of her growth.

Her advice to current Res students is simple:

• Don’t compare your path to others. Everyone’s journey will look different - whether it’s corporate jobs, travel, study, or starting a family.

• Trust what feels right for you. Your instincts are often the best guide.

• Make the most of Res. It’s more than a place to live - it’s where you’ll learn resilience, build networks, and discover who you are.

As she puts it:

Living on Res is a wild time of your life. Use it to make mistakes, learn new things, forgive others quickly and always, always be kind.

Because at the end of the day, your Res experience may end up shaping your career - and your life - in ways a grade alone never could.

At the 2025 Student Experience Awards, students and staff were privileged to hear Amy share her story firsthand, as she returned as DRS’ distinguished Alumni speaker. We are grateful to Amy for inspiring our community with her journey and are proud to have been part of her story.