Growing up playing street cricket in his small village in India, University of the Sunshine Coast graduate Naresh Kumar never expected to one day work in the heart of Brisbane.

Naresh, 22, graduated recently from USC with a Bachelor of Business and has secured a job supporting university students from Brisbane and across the world at USC’s SouthBank campus.

“I was born and brought up in a small village in Punjab, India and I never could have imagined being here and completing my qualifications,” he said.

“Studying in Australia allowed me to fulfil my dreams and achieve more than I thought I could have, all thanks to USC.”

Naresh was inspired to move to Australia after he completed Year 12 when his father told him the ages between 18 and 26 were the golden years of life.

“He said that if you can do well in these eight years by working hard, staying focused and gaining good qualifications then you can set a platform for the rest of your life.”

Naresh, who completed a Diploma of Business at the Southbank Institute of Technology as a pathway into the Business degree at USC SouthBank, said the campus in the middle of Brisbane’s cultural and entertainment precinct had become his second home.

“I felt as though I belonged here from the very first day. I was never homesick even though I was an international student and a thousand miles away from my family,” he said.

“I found the USC teaching and support staff were very helpful, encouraging and motivating and provided great opportunities for students to become their brilliant best.”

USC SouthBank Manager Julianne Bernhagen said Naresh was offered full-time work before he graduated due to his standout performance in USC’s pilot student@work program.

Each semester, USC SouthBank recruits students to work casually at the multicultural campus where international students make up 60 percent of the enrolments.

“Naresh’s strong client service skills, coupled with the attitude and willingness to learn new business processes saw him to be a perfect fit for a Support Officer role,” she said.

“Naresh is quick to apply what he has learnt during his studies to daily campus operations, and with his strong work ethic and belief in lifelong learning he epitomises the business leader of the future.”

— Clare McKay