Evam reflects on international study, finding balance, and the road ahead after completing his degree.

Student Focus - Evam Kaushik

I’m still trying to crack the perfect routine.

Q: What is your favourite place to travel, and where have you been?

A:Flagstaff Hill on my motorbike is one of my favourite local rides. In South Australia, I really enjoyed visiting Gumeracha — people there seemed unhurried and relaxed. I had lunch at a small café near the Big Rocking Horse, and it was quite nice.

One of my most memorable experiences was a solo motorbike trip through the Himalayas in India — a 750 km journey over five days through the mountains.

Q: How do you manage your time with study and everything else?

A:This is a constantly evolving process, and I’m still trying to crack the perfect routine. Right now, I plan four out of seven days to the hour. The other three days I leave blank so I can be spontaneous. But as my responsibilities have been increasing, I’m needing to rework that balance.

Q: What does your study routine look like each week?

A: Most of my study happens in the afternoon, evening, and night. I break my time into three-hour blocks. Some of that time is dedicated to academic work, and some of it I use to explore topics that interest me personally.

Q: How do you stay motivated when study gets tough?

A: My approach to motivation is a bit different. When I don’t feel like studying, I pause and ask myself why. Usually, there’s a physiological or psychological reason — maybe I’m hungry, tired, or something else is off. Once I understand the root cause, I try to address it and make a change.

Don’t just engage in things as a formality - be intentional

Q: Do you exercise while studying? How does it help you?

A :Yes, I do light movement — walking around the room helps. I also practise calisthenics at home using whatever I have, like my bed frame, for bodyweight training. It really helps me stay focused and grounded.

Q: Do you use mindfulness in your routine?

A: Yes, I try to practise relaxed concentration and stay fully involved in my study. I watch and observe my thoughts as I go. I remind myself, you chose to do this — so give it your all.

Q: What’s one piece of advice you’d give to other students?

A: Make sure you truly believe in what you’re doing. Don’t just engage in things as a formality — be intentional.

Q: Now that your studies are over, what’s your next step?

A: Well, you probably already know! The reason I came here was to fill some key knowledge gaps. Now that I’ve done that, I’m looking to join a PhD program and make the most of what I’ve learned.