Interview with Minghao (Tiger) Yan

1st Year Undergraduate resident

Minghao (right) pictured here with Cr Max Stephens. This photo was taken at the Welcome BBQ on 25th March

Tell me something about yourself.

I finished my VCE at Haileybury College in Melbourne last year, having come here from Beijing about five years ago.

What was your favourite subject at school? And what are your hobbies?

Physics was my favourite subject. And my favourite hobbies are badminton and fishing.

What led you to Graduate House?

Firstly, it’s very close to the university. And breakfast and dinner are provided. Also, I have a comfortable room and bathroom – and it gets cleaned every week! It’s very convenient for me, and I’m able to focus on my studies and have more free time. I didn’t want to live in a share house.

Did you know that this is the first year in the sixty years since Graduate House was established that undergraduate students have been able to live here?

Yes. I’m very lucky.

Have you made many friends in the short time you’ve been living here?

I have, and the people here are very nice.

What degree are you enrolled in?

A Bachelor of Science.

Although you’ve only just begun this degree program, have you thought what you might do after you finish it?

I’m thinking that I would like to keep studying and do a Masters degree. I’m aiming for aerospace engineering. I will be majoring in mechanical engineering in my third year and I think that will be a pathway to aerospace engineering. My parents are very supportive.

What is it like living in a college with other people?

I’m enjoying it very much. I’m meeting friends every day and also meeting new people. So far we’ve mostly met during breakfast or dinner, but last week we were asked to select activities that we would like to do, and we can also suggest other things. This will be good. I’m also keeping in touch with my friends from secondary school; some of them are also studying at Melbourne University.

Are you enjoying living with graduate students as well as undergraduates?

Most of the students I have met are graduate students doing their Masters or PhD, and they have been very friendly and helpful. We’ve had really nice discussions and they have given me some new and different ideas. One graduate student I met had been working and has now returned to university to do a Masters degree; this is quite different from what I know. I have also met people from different countries. It is very interesting and I have learnt new things about their country and culture. I recently went with a student to a Japanese restaurant which is close to Graduate House and I liked the food very much.

So you’re enjoying your studies and living at Graduate House?

Yes, and this semester one of my subjects is a ‘breadth’ subject – French. I have not studied French before, but I’m enjoying it.

You mentioned to me that you haven’t been able to go back to Beijing for more than two years because of the pandemic. Are you hoping to go home for a holiday at the end of this year?

I hope so. I didn’t go home during the pandemic over the last two years because my teacher in school told me that it might be difficult for me to return to Australia because of the pandemic.

Have you travelled very much around Victoria?

I’ve been to several beaches – including Lakes Entrance – mostly to go fishing. Whenever I have time I love to fish. I’ve caught a lot of snapper and flathead. Sometimes I have gone on a professional fishing boat with a group of people and have caught some very nice trevally – and even shark. It’s such a relaxing hobby.