Anika

Why did you decide to pursue postgraduate study in Health?

I originally studied a Bachelor of Youth and Community Leadership at UC. I knew that I wanted to help people, but I was still finding my feet in terms of how that would look. In the final year of my undergrad we were doing our own community projects, and I noticed that I began leaning towards a health viewpoint, looking at hauora Māori and concepts of wellbeing. When I came across Public Health, I really liked the population level of it. I realised that I want to make a wider change in the community where it can impact a lot of people.

What was your journey to study like?

I actually left school at 16 and had no desire to go to uni. It felt like it just wasn’t for me. I was going through a dark time and a lot of health issues. Then, one day, I looked at myself and something just snapped. I managed to start taking care of myself and found an interest in study, and UC offered so much variety and opportunity.

I think that's another reason why health has always been in the back of my mind. I know what it's like to struggle with it, and I want to help heal that in other people.

Why is making an impact in public health so important to you?

I believe that everyone deserves the right to equitable healthcare. It’s a basic human right to be happy and healthy, and to have that support. From a young age, I've seen and heard that leadership and empathy are strengths of mine, and this pathway is something that really fulfils me. Looking at a population level, if you can teach one person these fundamental skills, that’s something they can then pass on themselves.

What are your career goals, and how will your studies help you achieve
them?

My purpose is to help people, and my postgraduate study has steered me in the direction of what that looks like and how I'm going to do it. I want to go into oncology, whether it's paediatric or a general age population.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health is only a year long and I like how it teaches everything that you need to know, but it also rolls on to other health science and medical pathways and complements my plan of doing further study in the Health space.

What do you like most about UC’s Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health?

Networking has been a cool part of my study. I really appreciate that the programme coordinator works to help us make connections with people in the areas we’re interested in working in. I also like that we've got lots of international students, so we're getting global viewpoints on matters that are at a population level. It’s inspiring and really informative.

How does your professional experience as a youth worker benefit your
studies and future career path?

I’ve been a youth worker for two years now. Being able to connect with people and give them the tools they need to thrive is a skill that translates to working in health. It also gives me experience working with families and other stakeholders in young people's lives, so as my studies and career continue, I'll be able to curate a skillset based on my past experience and carry that through.

Working with people at such a deep and meaningful level helps you for the rest of your life.

What’s your favourite thing about your time at UC?