Meet Taylah: Waurn Ponds Resi
- Blog
- 3 min read
- •Posted May 2021
Taylah Williams is not one to pass up an opportunity, and it’s almost hard to believe the level of her engagement with her faculty, the broader University and Deakin Res. A graduate of Hellyer College, and originally from Burnie, Tasmania, Taylah moved interstate to study Biomedical Sciences in 2020, also electing to live in residence at Deakin’s Geelong Waurn Ponds campus.
From that moment on, despite the challenges presented by COVID, she’s certainly made the most of every possible opportunity to get involved in university and residential life. This has included attending university events like UniStart and DUSA’s Beats and Eats, and plenty of activities organized through Deakin Res like trivia nights, cooking classes and a trip to Geelong’s Adventure Park. Alongside she also attended multiple Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) and is a mentee in the Science Engineering and Built Environment (SEBE) Peer Support Network.
Taylah is also the recipient of a Vice Chancellor’s Academic Excellence Scholarship. Other than financial help, one of the main benefits of the scholarship has been her participation in the ‘Vice-Chancellor’s Professional Excellence Program’ (VCPEP), involving meetings, networking opportunities, mentoring, and participation in challenges designed to enhance students’ personal and professional development. Through workshops and career-focused activities, Taylah has already completed a career plan, built a LinkedIn profile, produced a resume, recorded an elevator pitch, and entered the DeakinTalent Candidate Pool. She notes, “This program has been one of the highlights of my university experience, and I feel incredibly excited for what is to come after the completion of my degree.”
If her involvement in all of the above wasn’t enough, Taylah returned to live on campus this year, and was appointed as of one of our volunteer Residential Leaders. Providing transitional support, facilitating community engagement and supporting the organization of residential activities, Taylah highlights that he time thus far in the role has “provided her with the opportunity to further develop her leadership and communication skills, and to make a truly positive contribution to the residential community.”
Less than halfway through the year, Taylah is excited about what’s ahead.
Written by
Laura is widely regarded as an industry expert in the theory, planning, and delivery of exceptional student experiences, having honed her skills over the course of a career spanning two decades and multiple higher education institutions.
