By Darren Goh

Hi! My name is Darren and I’m in my second year of the Bachelor of Banking, Finance and Technology degree, minoring in Economics. During my second semester, I will be embarking on a Waikato Global Experiences exchange to the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK).

While I’ve genuinely enjoyed my time at the University of Waikato, towards the end of my first year, I began to feel too comfortable in my routine and realised I needed a new challenge. A timely reminder came when I spoke with several industry professionals, Waikato alumni, who shared that one of their biggest regrets was not seizing opportunities like this when they had the chance. Their reflections highlighted just how valuable this experience could be – not only academically, but also socially and personally.

I chose CUHK because it offers me a chance to study at one of the world’s leading FinTech hubs. Hong Kong is globally recognised for its advanced digital payments ecosystem, which will provide me invaluable insights into the future of finance. Adapting to a fast-paced financial environment will be an exciting challenge, pushing me to develop resilience, adaptability and cross-cultural communication skills.

My goal is to broaden my perspectives by immersing myself in a different culture and academic environment. It will also give me the opportunity to connect with students of different backgrounds and potentially engage with leaders in the FinTech industry. Most importantly, stepping outside my comfort zone is an accomplishment within itself. One that would shape me in ways that staying in a familiar environment simply couldn’t.