Eight months

An unpacking of my time at FBE

By Thomas Feng

June 2^nd, 2017

Today is my last day of my eight months working for the Faculty of Business & Economics/Melbourne Business School. It feels like only yesterday that I walked back into The Spot Building, the very same building I studied my Bachelor of Commerce, and tapped my staff card on Level 4 to pass the hefty, glass Melbourne Business School door for the first time.

As I unpacked my two small boxes containing strategic documents and my oversized mug, I had no idea what kind of work I would be doing. After working in Chancellery and having the opportunity to see the University from high-up, it has been rewarding working face-to-face with students and prospective students in a faculty context. It has cemented my belief in the University existing at the core for its students and research.

My top highlights are travelling to Jakarta, Indonesia for five days to recruit students and spending the final three months developing and writing a report on faculty scholarships.

On Monday, I am moving north of Grattan St to the Melbourne School of Design to start my final rotation in marketing communications. Here are my favourite spots south of Grattan St which I have really appreciated having whilst working here:

University Square lawn during the day for lunches and coffees, though grass dampness should be tested prior to sitting
Momo Sushi on Pelham St for its excellent sushi selection and great service
Queensberry Pourhouse for a delicious coffee and good atmosphere without the crowds of Seven Seeds
Pearl's cafe because no other place is dodgy enough to offer potato cakes

Most of all though, I will miss working with the people there. They are the ones who make the Academic Support Office the sweet, fun-loving, close-knit workplace it is. Leaving a job is always easier than leaving the wonderful, supportive people working there and I have been very fortunate to have had a hilarious and harmonious bunch of people around me.

Thank you FBE for being a place I looked forward to come to work to for eight months. Thank you for the endless laughs, morning teas, Eurovision office kitchen dance parties and support. Thank you for helping me back onto my feet after a tough time outside of work in the first couple of months.

The past eight months have been an absolute blur, in which I have been welcomed into a warm, loving office family and felt supported to be myself again. I feel eternally grateful.