Meet Elangi, our Fresher of the Year from Cairns, Far North Queensland. As a Bachelor of Biomedical Science student, Elangi embraced her O-week goal of making new friends through Cromwell’s vibrant community. From unforgettable sporting and cultural competitions to study sessions and shared meals, she highlights how the small size of Cromwell fosters lifelong connections and makes every moment memorable. Discover how her first year became a transformative experience filled with friendships, fun, and personal growth.
Hometown: Cairns, Far North Queensland
Degree of Study: Bachelor of Biomedical Science
Though many of my schoolmates moved down from Cairns, I made it my O-week goal to branch out and meet new people. Cromwell’s O-week program made this possible for freshers like me. All 113 of us skipped around campus in matching baggy shirts and snazzy sombrero hats; sharing the same sweaty yet gratifying experience. Not only did I grow closer with the girls in my corri, but I also forged friendships across different buildings.
Throughout the year, I loved making new friends through sporting and cultural competitions. I’ve always appreciated a bit of competition, but kicking a soccer ball around and dancing to ABBA with my mates was also a blast and a welcome break from study.
Crommie gave me the chance to try four new sports – I never imagined I’d be rowing on the Brisbane River! Playing AFL for the first time was super enjoyable and a perfect way to put gameplay I’d seen on the telly into practice. A few of the girls came off the field with scratches, but we were already amped for the next week’s game.
One thing I love about Crommie is the convenience of the tutorial rooms and student-led tutorials. These subject-specific sessions, run by current or past Cromwell students, were a lifesaver during exam season. They helped me better understand the types of questions asked and how exam markers expect us to phrase our responses.
Breakfast time was a great opportunity to connect with people I didn’t often see, and I loved relaxing with my corri on the deck during lunch and dinner. Crommie’s small size fosters a sense of community – you learn everyone’s name by the end of the first semester. Whether I was walking the river loop, heading to class, or grabbing a snack from the Ville, it was always a good feeling to bump into familiar faces.
The endless opportunities have truly made my fresher year one of the best years of my life. I know I’ve made lifelong friends and created memories that I’ll always look back on with a smile.
Written by Elangi Cuttance
