Rosalie Alter-Shaw

"I’m originally from Palmerston North but moved up here to attend the University of Auckland - the best move I ever made!

"Since childhood I've had an interest in Asia and I wanted a springboard in New Zealand that would make it easier to get over to Asia in the future.

"Obviously Auckland was the best fit! I initially chose to come to Auckland to study Korean, which no other university offered. While I didn’t continue with Korean, I was quickly won over by the excitement of being in a larger city with such a heavy Asian influence in food, demographics and culture.

"Being right in the heart of Auckland means that students have access to the lively energy of the CBD. You can walk to Albert Park during your breaks or go grab a bubble tea, or perhaps hang out in the library studying if you have tests coming up.

"There are plenty of clubs and lots of events going on. If you're living in a hall of residence then you have an additional layer of events and socialisation to tap into. Student lifestyle really is what you choose to make of it!

"In my first year I was part of the Kiwi Asian club. It provided me with a way to venture out of the CBD, such as a hike we did at Karekare beach or a trip to the hot pools. As a young student with little mobility or courage to venture to places in outer Auckland, having a club was very helpful in this respect!

"The Faculty of Arts cares a lot for their students - the lecturers are almost invariably approachable and genuinely care for your wellbeing. When I was feeling overwhelmed by my workload, people took the time to listen to me and help make accommodations for my situation. There’s quite a human feel to the faculty in that sense, despite its large size.

"Being able to combine so many disparate areas of interest, ranging from sociology of death to Japanese history, urban geography and anthropology of religion, and still come out with a coherent degree almost seemed too good to be true.

"There has not been a single course in my degree I disliked. That’s a pretty rare thing to be able to say about your degree, and a real testimony to the BA in general.

"You get to develop valuable critical thinking, research and other transferable skills that are highly relevant to the needs of the future workforce, and indeed future citizens of an unstable world."

Rosalie is a recipient of the Sasakawa Undergraduate Scholarship for Japanese, the Prime Minister’s Scholarship for Asia and the Grace Kay Award.