My name is Maarij Farooqi. Raised and educated in Dubai, my family comes from Pakistan.
Living now in Bondi Beach with a vibrant life around me, which wasn’t always like such. I arrived in Australia 5 years ago on a student visa in a subject I astutely chose and never found my passion in. With Covid making headlines and university going completely online, I was facing joblessness, loneliness
and depression straight off the bat. I almost gave up until someone who’s lived through it all assured me that Australia rewards honest hard work and allows flexibility as long as you commit and grow in a field that you like. For me, that field was people and culture management, and later on, with the opportunities that I earned, it had to be within the hospitality industry. After years of working with various hospitality companies like Nandos, Cali Press and Fishbowl, I was lucky enough to find myself under the wing of some well-known and highly regarded managers and executives who opened their mind and heart to me, which accelerated my personal growth and finally made me a worthy sponsorship candidate. With all the criteria satisfied, I was referred to Migration Downunder.
I manage the Fishbowl Bondi Beach store and have done so for some time, and through their support, have been sponsored under a 482 Skills in Demand visa. Working with them made me realise that every little detail plays a significant role in getting an application approved, and the Migration Downunder team left no stone unturned to make sure my application was free from errors, reducing the risk of refusal or rejection to the absolute minimum. Despite all of the care that goes into it, there is no remedy for the anxiety that entails once the visa is lodged. It builds up a little bit every day, and the longer it takes, the more it feels like something maybe went wrong.
However, it is important to note that there are several external factors as to why the application takes time. But once it gets approved, it feels as though a burden is removed from one’s shoulders, and the plans that once were just “wishful thinking” start to become a list of affirmative actions for the rest of the time in Australia.
For me, those plans look something like this. Add more value to myself through courses related to my field. Make a travel plan or two to explore the vast lands of Australia. Explore new restaurants, maybe even partner with someone, offer them my expertise and help them start a hospitality business. Grow with my company and empower the younger lot to dream big and guide them on how to plan to achieve them. Lend a hand to those in need, following the footsteps of those who did the same for the young, confused, and alone me. I think now it’s time to return the favour. Because at the end of the day, that is what I loved about Australia the most. The people. They create endless opportunities and possibilities for you, and a system like Australia’s allows and encourages you to do just that.