Volunteer Spotlight
Meet Santoshi
Santoshi is one of Inspiring the Future volunteer’s. We asked Santoshi a few questions about her experiences volunteering with Inspiring the Future:
How long have you been an Inspiring the future volunteer?
I have been volunteering with Inspiring the Future since 2020.
What made you want to sign up to volunteer with Inspiring the Future?
I came to Australia as an International Student. I share my experiences as an international student through my blog unichamps.org. While researching the data to write an article for my blog, I was surprised to learn the Skilled Profession “Accountant” have been in demand skills list for the past 15 years in Australia. I did further research and identified many factors contributing to this situation, one of them could be young generation not aware of professions that are in high demand in Australia.
Through Toastmaster Club (where I am a member); I learnt about Inspiring the Future and registered myself to talk to young students and understand their opinions. I wanted to share the knowledge I have gained over the years in my profession and talk about high demand professions in Australia.
What is it about volunteering with Inspiring the Future that you really enjoy?
The best part I enjoy is talking to number of students and understand what they are working on. Sometimes, I wonder how clear they are with their goals at a very young age.Students who do not have decided yet about their goals, I get an opportunity to talk about my profession as an option to consider as their career.
Has your career journey taken the path you imagined it would?
I grew up in a village in India and studied what my teachers and parents suggested. Apart from that, I had no clue what my degree offers me in the world of work. I learnt more about life after I moved to Australia as a single international student at the age of 21. It took me 22 years to understand what my degree offers me with the help of my mentors in every job I took in Australia.
I started developing skills and knowledge to be a ‘professional Accountant’. After working in various accounting roles, I did not enjoy them. Eventually I found the job “Internal Auditing” as the right fit to my personality.
What is something about your career journey that has surprised you?
I have not found any great surprises in my career journey so far. However, it made me understand some of the life lessons:
1. Along with hard work and technical skills, soft skills such as good communication skills, persuasive and influencing skills are important to progress further in the career ladder. Having soft skills and technical skills are like two tyres of a bicycle. One without another may take longer to reach your goal.
2. Never ask for easy life. Ask for the strength to deal with difficult times of your life. This applies to personal and professional life.
What is one piece of advice that you would share with young people today?
After speaking to hundreds of students, I would like to say for those students who are already clear about their goal “Just keep working towards your goal, you may find many hiccups in the way of failures, never afraid! Keep going until you reach it.
For those who do not have a career goal yet; do not worry! I was in the same boat as you when I was at your age. However, take out all your study books, observe which subject keeps you excited and want to learn more about it beyond your school. Try to consider the careers in that subject. Take the help of your teachers and parents, they are the best mentors at this stage.
Overall, you are the new future of the country. Take charge and make the world a better place to live in. Be an inspiration to your juniors. All the best!
