Matt remembers that it was a leadership paper he took in the final year of his BCom degree which led him to develop further his main values and passions in life. In the two years following his graduation he was drawn towards a vocation to 'help those who want to help themselves grow', and towards the Master's in Education and Certificate in Counselling.

Matt has found the master's course to be a very rounded learning experience. 'The course has been fantastic and the personal growth amazing. I am lucky to have great lecturers and a great group of classmates, which all combine to make a fantastic learning environment. Along with courses at the University I am on placement at a school in Christchurch. This combination of both theory and practical knowledge will enhance my education experience.'

It is not only the academic life that Matt appreciates about UC. 'Canterbury has a great environment. I have made some lifelong friends and had many memorable and life-changing moments here,' he says. 'The student support is fantastic. I am a student with a vision and hearing disability and UC's Disability Centre has been not only fundamental in my decision about which university to study at, but also a key to my success.'

In 2010 Matt was one of three finalists at the Young New Zealander of the Year Awards, nominated for his inspirational work leading the adolescent and young people's cancer charity, CanTeen. 'I was diagnosed with cancer myself at the age of 14. Life can be difficult when you are a teenager, especially if you add to that having cancer and, for me, losing a significant amount of my sight. CanTeen, through its support and leadership opportunities, made me realise I can do anything I put my mind to. Being the national president of an organisation such as CanTeen at the young age of 23 was truly an inspiring time.'

Matt's advice to anyone considering starting a degree is to keep the outcome in mind throughout. 'I think the biggest thing when considering committing yourself to study is having an overall passion for what you want to do. Having a passion for what you do in life makes the time spent with the books much easier.'