No place like home for Tai Tokerau graduate

A whanau-like feeling and classmates she now calls friends sustained University of Auckland Bachelor of Education (Primary) graduate Logan Petersen through the challenges of returning to study after “an extra-long gap year”.

Originally from the Tutukaka Coast area, Logan is graduating from the University’s Tai Tokerau campus and is in her first year of teaching at Manaia View School in Whangārei, where her partner’s mother also teaches.

“I’m teaching new entrant and Year 2 students and have been blessed with a super supportive school and a small class that will expand as the year goes on.”

She says going from being a student to full-time work has been “a massive adjustment”.

“I miss my midday naps! But thanks to my studies and a great last couple of placements, I’ve felt like I have some strong foundations to continue to grow and learn in my role.”

After years of travelling, working as a hospitality tutor and eventually completing a diploma in environmental management, Logan felt the pull of teaching and relished the added advantage of studying close to home.

“Teaching has always been a career I’ve considered; my sister is a teacher in Auckland, but the time was never right until now. And studying in Whangārei made everything more achievable with living costs, and the support of my friends and whānau nearby.”

She also discovered a great student support network during the three-year degree, as well as lecturers who went out of their way to help her through.

“Some of my classmates have become good friends and we continue to debrief and support each other, even though we’re all working,” she says.

“Special mentions go to [campus director] Dr Maia Hetaraka, MJ Hayter and Mirko Wojnowski, who became pillars in my journey and people I believe I can continue to lean on throughout my career. Kāhore taku toa i te toa takitahi he toa takitini. (We can’t succeed without the support of those around us).”

Logan would advise anyone, of any age, considering study to take their time finding out what they really want to do.

“The extra years I took between school and university really allowed me to focus all my energy into my studies, because I was 100 percent sure that was where I was meant to be.”

Sustaining study is too hard otherwise, she says.

“It’s full on and you really need to love what you’re doing and see your end goal.”

And she says the things you’ve done before teaching can be incorporated into your classroom as well.

“My knowledge from doing environmental management has allowed me to create environmental programmes at school, something I’m very passionate about.”

It also helps if your whānau is on board.

“I’m so lucky my family have rallied behind me, so I’ll be joined at graduation by my immediate whānau, my parents and sister, and also by my partner and his mother, and my best friend, who will be coming to show her support.”

And while Logan believes teaching is a great career that opens up opportunities to live around New Zealand and the world, she has to admit, there’s no place like home.

“I’ve really enjoyed settling back into life in Whangārei from study into work.”

Logan Petersen graduated with her Bachelor of Education (Primary) in Whangārei on 26 March, alongside six others from the Faculty of Arts and Education and 22 nursing graduates from the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences.