Chapter 1: The Big Move (Pt 1)

Muyang’s story starts in 2019 where she left behind everything familiar in China to study at Monash College in Melbourne. She reflects on the immense cultural and academic shift that she and many international students face, expressing, ‘I had to learn to listen, speak, read and write in a completely different legal and academic context.’

‘I’ve always been a talker,’ Muyang confesses – a sentiment many law students can relate to. Although she was always outspoken in her native language, Muyang found that when she began learning the English language, she became quieter and didn’t feel like the same person she once was. Slowly however, she found her voice again, ‘I started to observe the way people talked, how they made jokes, how they expressed ideas and how they connected with others.’

She thanks her mentor Michael Ching, whom she met via the Monash Mentoring Program for assisting her in developing confidence and for fostering a sense of belonging within the international student cohort. Her advice to international students is to seek out connections via the Monash Law Student Society (LSS) who offer countless events for international students such as dinners, networking events, and clubs tailored to international students looking to find their people.

Chapter 2: To network or not to network, that is the question

The importance of networking in the legal field is emphasised to law students time and time again. As law school’s unofficial subject its importance is accepted, however for many students, especially those who are still building their confidence, it can feel daunting and transactional.

Muyang took a different approach, preferring to foster deeper and more meaningful connections with those she would meet on the daily, rather than chasing every event. ‘These are connections you’ll have forever,’ she says, affirming that she has no regrets in taking her own time and embracing the networking opportunities as they appeared in her everyday life.

On the topic of imposter syndrome, she turned inward. Introspection and self-reflection became her grounding tools in remembering her own value and focusing on her own journey. Her advice to students is to avoid comparison. Others may have had access to certain opportunities or connections, but discovering pathways and experiences for yourself – through your own effort – is powerful in its own right.

Chapter 3: Studying Law 101

We all think we need to study the law to do well in law school, but has anyone actually considered studying how to study well? Muyang did and found success in equipping herself with study strategies catered to her needs.

She admits that she may have spent too much of her time trying to complete all the readings assigned to her and suggests to students to “always start your readings with a question” and then read to find the answer to that particular question.

When asked about the challenges of assessed tutorial participation, Muyang reframed the task at hand. ‘You don’t have to answer questions – you can ask them.’ Asking your peers or your tutor questions during tutorials is a great way of clarifying everyone’s understanding of the concepts being covered and demonstrating a critical assessment of the issues without the pressure of having the ‘right’ answer. Bonus points if you start by offering a question as well as a tentative answer to it!