Student Focus - Evam Kaushik
Q: What is your favourite place to travel, and where have you been?
A (Evam):
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 (Evam):
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 (Evam):
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 (Evam):
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.
Q: Do you exercise while studying? How does it help you?
A (Evam):
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 (Evam):
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 (Evam):
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 (Evam):
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.
