Holly Ma is a dancer, teacher and choreographer currently based in Canberra.

Clubs and societies can offer amazing experiences in new and interesting areas, outside of your specific degree. It can also enable you to have access to jobs and internship opportunities that do not rely on your job experience outside of university. Many students find it difficult to change industries and learn different skills, or skills more relevant to their degree. Clubs and societies provide a safe and community-based space, which allows you to have fun, find a passion and explore alternate career paths. I was able to interview Holly, a recent graduate and ask her about her experience with her degree and how clubs and societies helped her find her passion. 

How can clubs and societies provide opportunities outside of regular university courses?

Holly moved to ANU from New Zealand to study a Bachelor of Science Advanced (Hons), majoring in Environmental Science and Marine Science. She has always had a passion for the environment and loved the idea of studying the coral reef. She found the ANU Dance Club during o-week’s market day. While she had grown up in ballet classes, dance was mainly a hobby, something she looked to continue at university. Over the next few years, she would slowly rise within the ANU Dance committee and become the president . While university became more intense and she completed her honours degree, dance was a space where she continued to have fun and fuel her passion. Holly began to meet dancers in Canberra and even became part of a local dance crew. This experience with ANU Dance Club helped her realise that perhaps her previous ambitions to continue in research were not for her. She enjoyed being around others and the social aspect of dancing. This highlights how through clubs and societies, you can learn more about yourself and what you require from your future career. In some cases it can also help you land a Grad Job!

How can clubs and societies help you establish a passion and find an alternative career pathway?

Holly is the prime example that sometimes you'll realise that your degree is just not for you and that perhaps you want to consider switching degrees, or go down an alternative career path - and that's ok! During 2022 she made a name for herself - every time someone would think of heels dancing in Canberra, her name would be brought up! She began teaching classes throughout the city and realised that while lab work may not be for her at this stage, dancing and choreographing were. 

Holly says, “There are many ways to grow and different pathways for everyone, but for me, a lot of these opportunities I have been able to take are through the people I have met at ANU Dance Club.” She was able to find a new passion and a pathway to nurture this. 

How can clubs and societies help you get out of your comfort zone?

Holly did not know that joining the ANU Dance Club in her first year would lead to her becoming president of the club in 2022 and co-producing an end-of-year dance showcase. She was pushed out of her comfort zone and went from being a student to one of the best dance teachers in Canberra. 

The ANU Dance Club enabled her to slowly take steps into new roles and experiences. While she is glad for all the growth that came from studying for her degree, stating that “university was about learning about the world and myself”, she is also glad that she is currently working full-time after completing  her degree, as well as teaching dance . 

As a final remark, Holly shared that , “If there is something that makes you feel like you, makes you feel everything and let go, you would be dumb not to chase after it.”

About The Author Perpetual is an International Relations and Arts (Human Rights and Sociology) student at The Australian National University. She has been writing for Woroni since 2022 and is interested in international politics, and how we can help those around the world.