Mathangiee Gnanasampanthan

When Mathangiee Gnanasampanthan decided to study at the Australian National University (ANU), she didn’t have a clear career map laid out. What she did have was curiosity, ambition, and a willingness to see where the journey would take her. Four years later, she has graduated with a double degree in Commerce and Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE) and credits the experience with reshaping not only her career outlook, but also how she understands the world and her place within it.

“Choosing PPE was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made,” she reflects. “It’s given me new perspectives, challenged my thinking, and ultimately shaped the person I’ve become.”

ANU appealed to Mathangiee not just for its reputation, but also for its location in the nation’s capital, where political debates happening in lecture halls often spill into the real world. “I wanted more than theory, I wanted to see how ideas connect to practice,” she explains. The fact that ANU is one of the few universities in Australia offering PPE sealed the deal.

Mathangiee has gained professional experience through internships with the Department of Education and the ACT Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate, while also serving as ANUSA’s CBE student representative in 2024. Learning how to balance study, work, and extracurriculars without compromising her results was a lesson in discipline that she knows will serve her long after graduation.

As a student living off campus, becoming a CASS Student Ambassador gave her a sense of belonging and community. “It was a way to feel much more connected to the ANU community,” she says. “It gave me the chance to work alongside other students, get involved in events, and feel like I was contributing to the vibrant life of the university.”

Her journey wasn’t without challenges. The independence of university life felt overwhelming at first, but she found her footing by building routines, seeking support when needed, and most importantly, saying yes to opportunities. Looking back, she wishes she had realised sooner just how many doors ANU opens, “If I had known from the beginning, I would have said yes to even more things.”

Now, as she reflects on next steps, Mathangiee’s options are open, whether in accounting, policy, or somewhere unexpected. “My ANU journey has been eye-opening. It’s taught me to see the world in new and surprising ways,” she says.

Her advice to new students is simple, “be open to change. You don’t need to have everything figured out from day one. Explore, stay curious, and let yourself take unexpected opportunities along the way.”