Why did you decide to study Accounting?
I did an accounting course in high school and they had chartered accountants come speak, and it seemed pretty cool. I've also got family and family friends in Australia who are accountants and they really sold it to me. They told me that every organisation or business in every field needs an accountant. I reckon it opens up a lot of options and can take me anywhere I want to go.
What would you like to do when you graduate?
I want to become an accountant and work for a company for a while to gain experience, but ultimately I’d like to explore entrepreneurship. I'd love to start my own business one day.
What do you like most about your studies so far?
I love the flexibility of my degree. It makes it easy to have a good work-life balance, which is great because I play a lot of social sports and I can fit everything around my studies. The content is all accessible online, so I can refer back to it at any time. Lectures and tutorials are set up so that we learn things and apply them immediately.
My lecturers are nice and quite interesting; I had a specific lecturer who my friends and I connected with and he’d joke around with us. It made me stay more engaged with the material.
Did you receive any scholarships?
I won the Te Kakau a Māui scholarship, which not only covers my tuition but also offers heaps of other opportunities like regular workshops and mentoring.
One of my favourite things has been the chance to volunteer and give back to the community, which I really enjoyed because I didn’t do much of that in high school. They also had an orientation day specifically for scholarship recipients, which helped me meet a lot of people.
What do you like most about the UC student experience?
I’ve found it easy to meet and connect with new people. I’m always bumping into people I know just walking around campus. And there’s always something to do, like events or grabbing some free food. Sometimes I’ll just be on campus and wander into getting free pizza or sushi.
The UCSA is always posting about giveaways and great events, like orientation week or wellness events, and there was even a petting zoo once.
Are you involved with any clubs?
The club I’m most involved with is UC Amateur Sports Society. I love playing social sports, especially basketball, futsal, and netball.
I also really like the Pacific societies. They do things like a welcome night for newcomers, kava nights, BBQs, and even host guest speakers.
Have you found a good Pacific community at UC?
Definitely. Before coming to UC, I was already connected to my Pacific heritage through my family and community. I’ve been to Fiji a few times and visited my village, so that’s a big part of who I am. But being at UC has helped me meet even more Pacific people from different backgrounds.
By going to the events hosted by UC’s Pacific Development Team and the clubs, I’ve grown my network and made heaps of new friends. We hang out, play sports, and support each other. The Pacific community here is really connected, and it’s nice having dedicated spaces where I can study or just chill.
What do you like about being a student in Christchurch?
I love all the opportunities for sport here. I play for a Christchurch club basketball team, and it’s opened me up to meeting a wider range of people. The city has lots of events on throughout the year, including big ones in Hagley Park. And I love the beach. I try to get out to the water as much as possible. I tried learning to surf last summer, but usually I body surf; I’ll spend hours just going out and riding the waves back in.
How have you seen yourself grow since you started at UC?
I’m happier. Socially, I’ve grown a lot. I’ve spent this whole year meeting new people and making new friends. And being able to control my own schedule and balance all my sport with my studies has been a great new skill to have.
Any advice for future students?
Outside of class, UC is just straight up fun. If you like getting involved and doing things, you’ll always find things to be involved in. Just put yourself out there and make the effort. There’s a lot more to uni than just classes.
Would you recommend UC?
Definitely. Everything's convenient, with heaps right on campus – the gym, the Health Centre, pharmacy, food, and lots more. And Christchurch itself is convenient, too. It’s easy to get around, and it has everything. Do you want a beach, or do you want to go skiing? You can do both here.
If you had to sum up your UC experience in three words, what would they be?
Friends. Fun. Active.
