Mark Prakash Rao
"My classes at Monash made me more open to sharing my work."
Bachelor of Arts and Social Sciences (2016)
Full name/ nationality.
Mark Prakash Rao / Malaysian
Tell us briefly about your work or role in your current organisation?
I am currently employed as a freelance reporter based in Subang Jaya/Bandar Sunway, focused on civic- and community-centred stories.
How has your study in Monash Malaysia helped to prepare you for the working world?
Journalism classes helped me to become more independent and assertive in finding stories as well as instilling a sense of responsibility when reporting stories.
When you were choosing a course and a university did you have a clear picture of your future (and if so what was it)?
I knew I enjoyed writing but was unsure of what career would follow this interest.
How did that change (or reconfirmed) during your experience at Monash?
My classes at Monash made me more open to sharing my work and exposed me to the valuable experience journalism offers.
If you didn’t have a clear picture of your future, was there a moment at Monash that made you change the direction you would like to take in life?
I still do not have a clear picture of my future, but my experience at Monash made me realise I enjoy meeting new people and hearing their stories and ideas. Writing/journalism provides a medium by which I can pursue this interest.
What was it about Monash that made you select this university in the first place?
It offered the two courses I was interested in: writing and journalism.
What do you love most about your student life at Monash?
I liked that Monash had a good mix of local and international students and my meeting them have helped opened my worldview despite the size of the campus. I was also fortunate to have very good teachers who helped me push past my limitations and recognise my standing (i.e. my shortcomings and strengths).