'Do what you enjoy, don't do courses because you think it is what someone else wants or that it may make you a lot of money. You will succeed if you are happy in what you do.' This is Amanda's advice for anyone considering university study.

This approach certainly worked for Amanda, who after completing a Bachelor of Arts in Classics now works at BNZ as a Banking Advisor, and before this held a Consultant job at Westpac. This goes to show that if you study what you enjoy, everything will fall into place.

Amanda had a passion for classics and the ancient world and chose UC because she had heard about its 'fantastic Classics department'. She discovered as a student that 'the passion the professors brought to their lectures' was one of the highlights. Also incorporating Sociology and Psychology courses into her degree, she feels her BA prepared her for her current job in that she is 'able to relate to people from all walks of life'.

Amanda's work is varied and rewarding and involves arranging home loans, arranging personal and unsecured lending for clients, opening accounts, arranging insurance and providing financial advice.

'I see new people every day and every situation is different, so it is a great challenge to work out solutions to suit,' she says.

Amanda's plan for the future is to move up into a management position.