Hello! My name is Juhi, and I am a 2021 graduate at PM&C. I studied a combined Social Work and Law degree in Sydney, and worked for one year as a social worker and paralegal prior to joining PM&C.
Moving to Canberra was never part of the plan. Subconsciously I believed working at PM&C was not the path for me or a real option within my grasp. I would love to share how this year has joyfully challenged this belief, alongside other preconceptions of full-time work.
Growing up as a child of immigrant parents, I believed I had two career options: lawyer or doctor. I dutifully pursued the former and from the first year of university felt immense pressure to figure out what I’d specialise in. This stemmed from the belief that my twenties were a time to narrow down and develop mastery, requiring careful and deliberate steps towards a career. Not becoming a lawyer is one of the best things that has ever happened to me.
Policy is really fun. I feared it’d be tedious and dry, rearranging numbered paragraphs in long documents. Instead, I have found policy to be fast-paced, varied and all about responding to societal needs. I get the best of both worlds from my degrees – the people focus of social work and the critical problem-solving of law. I have also learned there is a word for people with short attention spans who are interested in lots of topics – generalist.
A large reason why PM&C felt so foreign was that I didn’t identify with the image of a public servant in my head. Someone confident and articulate, who is always on top of politics and reads The Economist for fun.
My parents own a restaurant and didn’t go to university. I didn’t grow up discussing politics around the dinner table. They wouldn’t be able to identify the Prime Minister.
This year has taught me that you don’t need to be any type of person to work at PM&C. You don’t need to be a debating champion. You don’t need to have studied politics, economics or law. The things that make you feel different are what empower you to analyse policy from a different angle.
The undoubtable highlight of my graduate year has been the people. Everybody I’ve met at this department is as supportive as they are intelligent and hard-working. I have laughed every day at work.
However, my colleagues are all so different. Not much unites them in background, studies or life experiences. Even my graduate cohort is comprised of unique individuals with degrees ranging from nursing to software engineering. Reflecting on the qualities they share, they are curious, committed and kind.
Although this does not mean much coming from a stranger on the internet, I wish you good luck on your journey. I know how daunting this process is. This year has taught me that life is not linear and it’s ok if things don’t go to plan. Holding onto rigid expectations may close doors before they’ve even opened. Whether you end up at PM&C or not, everything will be ok.