What was your journey to study at UC?
After helping my husband run our drainage business I needed a change, so five years ago I started learning Te Reo M膩ori. Suddenly I knew what I was born to do: to learn Te Reo M膩ori and reconnect with my culture. My daughter was at UC and she said to me, why don't you come to uni? So, I did!
You鈥檙e in your third year now. How has the experience been?
My first semester was harder than I thought. Everything was so new. I was able to reach out to the M膩ori support team (Te Waka P膩pakano) and my daughter to help me through. But as time went on, I got to know the ropes and understand how everything works. Now I鈥檓 flying!
What are you enjoying most about your program?
Whanaungatanga 鈥 building relationships. That's been the highlight for me. Every once in a while, I find myself stopping and thinking with amazement, I'm actually doing a degree, and in my fifties too! I find that so buy.
What else have you gotten up to as a UC student?
This year I'm running Caf茅 Reo. It鈥檚 a weekly event where students and lecturers come together to practice their te reo. I was a bit scared to take it on because I'm not very fluent, but lots of people encouraged me to give it a go, so I said yes.
What would you like to achieve with Caf茅 Reo?
I have so many ideas I鈥檓 actually having to reign myself in. For starters I鈥檝e created a bit more of a caf茅 environment and I鈥檝e had amazing feedback. My main focus though is on health and wellbeing, from the food to our time together. When I take on something, I want to do it really well.
Where are you hoping your degree will lead?
My original my goal was to make a difference for M膩ori children. Then Caf茅 Reo came about and that鈥檚 felt like a natural fit for me. I鈥檓 not sure exactly where I鈥檒l end up, but I know I'm going in the right direction and I'm happy to see where I end up.
How does it feel being a more mature student?
I feel really comfortable here, especially at Te Ao Marama. It feels like home. That鈥檚 because I've chosen something that I'm truly passionate about. When I have found myself surrounded by 18 year-olds, I've just decided to embrace it. So I make friends with everybody and get to know them as people.
What would you say to others in similar shoes to you?
Find the thing that you鈥檙e really passionate about 鈥 and if you don't know what that is, get out there and try things. Give yourself time and permission to ask yourself, what do聽I聽really want to do. A degree is an amazing thing to pursue and the flow on effects are endless. I know in my heart that that I'm on the right path.
