Arts student stories

“Studying for a Bachelor of Arts really set me up for a career of critical thinking and creativity. I was taught to see the world through many different lenses and to approach things with an open, creative mind-set. This has helped me reach my potential as a writer and content producer.”

From school in the rural south…

“Growing up in rural Otago, I was ready to experience life in a big city, and the excitement of Auckland really appealed to me. The Bachelor of Arts offered subject choices far beyond what I’d studied at high school.”

“Media, Film and Television gave me invaluable skills for understanding different forms of media and thinking critically about the messages they portray. The lecturers’ passion for teaching in this field really cemented my love for the subject. Because an Arts degree is so flexible, I was also able to pick courses outside of my majors in history, English, politics and marketing. Everything I studied hugely enriched my education.”

… To my current role

“In my role at the Child Cancer Foundation, I am responsible for the copywriting, communications, content for our website, social media, donor communications and media relations. I also work closely with our Family Support Team to connect with and tell the stories of families at different stages of their journey with childhood cancer.”

“Communication has become my real passion. I love learning more about news media, the relationship between advertising and audience, digital media, and political analysis. I also really enjoy the practical side of the degree. You get to create campaign strategies and complete visual media projects. It’s a really hands-on degree.”

My internship experience

“For my Communication internship, I worked at New Zealand Media and Entertainment (NZME). My main task was to create a social media campaign strategy to launch an NZME careers profile on TikTok. This included conducting a lot of independent research into their brand, TikTok as a platform, and the relationship between workplace and entertainment on a social media app. This then translated into creating the social media strategy.”

My future

“The practical course is super helpful. You learn how to create a great CV and you gain real-world interview skills. Essentially you learn how to market yourself to employers.

“My degree has taught me so much that is relevant and useful in the workplace, but particularly the ability to be creative and think outside the box. It’s also taught me to strive for excellence in everything I do; to work hard for what I want; and to believe that I can do whatever I put my mind to. I would love to go into Public Relations or brand management – and now I know I have the skills to succeed in this field.”