2010 Student Profile

Nothing was going to stop Donnelle Newson from making the most of her life.  So when she failed to meet university entrance in her final year of high-school, she knew there had to be a way to keep on with her education somehow - and she found her answer at Waikato University.

"I was a bit silly in high-school and didn't quite meet Uni entrance, so I had to figure out if going to uni was even for me. So when a friend of mine said she was doing CUP at Waikato I decided to join. It made moving into uni study so much easier. They teach you all the things that first year students find difficult to grasp, like good essay writing and accurate APA referencing. It was amazing."

Now studying towards her BSocSc(Hons) majoring in sociology, Donnelle is "completely loving" her university studies and is enthusiastic about the benefits she has received.

"I am so much more knowledgeable about the community around me. I can watch the news or read the newspaper and know what perspective communicators and writers are coming from. It's also made me more conscious of my contribution to my community, so I joined Victim Support and love volunteering for that (though study and travel limit how much I can contribute my time).

"The lecturers here are really approachable too. I have been told this year by a few people who went to different universities before doing grad studies at Waikato that the lecturers elsewhere are not so approachable and expect you to figure it all out for yourself. And there are so many things to get involved in."

Still it's important to work hard to achieve good results, says Donnelle, who has overcome sickness, relocation and other interruptions in the course of her university career.

"I think it's an achievement, my being here despite getting married at the beginning of my second year, moving cities three times during my studies and travelling to get to class; all while maintaining grades good enough to get accepted into honours."

It's definitely worth it though, she concludes, adding a few pieces of helpful advice for others considering study at Waikato.

"To new students I would say: enrol in all the papers in your first year that will help you with study skills - they help to enhance your grade success, and make essay writing a lot less scary. Always ask because people are always willing to help. Don't stress too much, in the end it will only make you sick.

"And don't let the mountainous campus scare you off because it only helps to burn off that inevitable weight gain from eating halls of residence food!"