Tabitha Lloyd

"I've always loved history and social sciences and had planned on doing an Arts degree for a while. Finding out about the Global Studies programme as well felt like such a natural fit for me. I thought this conjoint would give me even more opportunities to explore subjects and topics that I was interested in but didn't want to major in, and this has been the case!

"I love how my degree lets me take wide-ranging classes and encourages me to find the connections and relationships between every topic. All of my classes have taught me things that I've been able to transfer into other courses, like a New Zealand history class giving me insight into a class on international politics. I feel like I've developed a rich and nuanced understanding of the world around me!

"I love the classes that I take, and one of the big reasons for that is because of the people I get to take them with. It sounds cliché, but once you get into the swing of things in your discipline, it does begin to feel like a little community. You get familiar faces popping up in your classes, and there's such a range of people within the Faculty that it's straightforward to find people with whom you can relate and connect. The teaching staff are also incredible in terms of their knowledge, expertise, passion, and in terms of how supportive and kind they are.

"The student experience you get comes down to what you put in. What I love about the University of Auckland is that there are so many different opportunities to make your student lifestyle what you want it to be. It can be a bit overwhelming to try and figure out how to keep up with all your coursework, social life, extracurriculars, work and everything else, but the important thing is just to give it a try and figure out the balance that works for you.

"In 2022, I was on the exec committee of the Public Policy Club as the High Schools Co-Lead. A friend of mine encouraged me to apply, and I'm glad I did! I've loved having a space to talk about politics and policy with people as passionate as I am, and I've met so many wonderful people through the club.

"The best advice I ever received was from a close friend who is a few years ahead of me – you don't have to have it all figured out now. So many people (including me!) change their minds about what they want to study or what they want to become, and that's not only okay, it's healthy! Life is all about trying new things, making mistakes and changing our minds, and we've still got our whole lives ahead of us to try again. So try to breathe, and follow the things that spark your passion."

Tabitha is a recipient of the Summer Research Scholarship.