Wan Nor Aishah Samsudin, Yaseer Araffa, Sikander Bizengoo and Tracy Ho Tze Thing.

Although Wan Nor Aishah Samsudin, 24, received a job offer in broadcasting from a local private television station, she put that on hold to earn a degree.

“Monash had the course that I wanted and the subjects that I wanted, that’s why I chose to study here, and I’m definitely looking forward to it,” said Aishah, who is enrolled in Bachelor of Arts and International Studies.

The Malaysian lass had earlier pursued politics at a London university but did not find her calling, deciding instead to return to Malaysia and pursue a field she loved at Monash University Sunway campus.

“Everyone is younger!” she exclaims, but adds: “I’m having so much fun meeting everyone.”

Aishah was among hundreds who started University life on the first day of Orientation Week, held from July 18 to 22, and is aimed at helping new students settle in for the journey ahead.

Consisting of both academic and social activities, Orientation Week allows newcomers to learn about the different teaching and learning processes at the university, understand the courses they have signed up for, get to know their lecturers, take part in activities and events, and make new friends.

Another arresting performance on display.

Their enthusiastic moves got the crowd cheering in support.

Chemical engineering student Yaseer Araffa has big shoes to fill.

The 19-year-old not only one day aim to take over his father’s chemical business, but has a big name to live up to, having been obviously named after Nobel Laureate Yasser Arafat (who died after an illness in 2004).

Asked how it was for the young man from Bangladesh to be living with the name of the legendary Palestinian leader he said: “It’s fun, actually. People keep asking me, ‘Why are you named Yaseer Araffa?’ and I say, ‘I don’t know! I think my Dad liked him,” says Yaseer.

Exchange student Matthew McCarc from Monash University Australia is looking forward to beginning a new life in Malaysia.

“The Residence seems pretty nice, with the pool everything,” said the 21-year-old, a fourth-year Mechanical Engineering student from the Clayton campus, in Malaysia for the first time.

Joanna Stergiou, 20, is pursuing her second last year of Business, majoring in Marketing, at the Caulfield campus. She decided to venture to Malaysia for a second time after first visiting the country with her high school several years ago.

“Eat!” she says, when asked what she was looking forward to doing in Malaysia. “I’m really looking forward to meeting the locals and exploring the country beyond the tourist attractions.”

Malaysian Tracy Ho Tze Thing, 19, said she chose to pursue the Bachelor of Science (Medical Bioscience) student at Monash University Sunway campus because the university had a good reputation.

Monash University attracts students from all parts of the globe.