2010 Student Profile

Waikohu Keelan-Cox has big ideas for her future - and she's taking her first steps here at Waikato University.

Currently working towards her Bachelor of Social Sciences, with a double major in Psychology and Te Reo Māori, Waikohu knows she's not going to stop there.
"After my Masters degree," she enthuses, "hopefully I will work towards a teaching degree also. After the teaching degree I will work toward getting a PhD and writing a thesis on Māori Perception of Mental Health.

"With the knowledge I will gain I plan on educating others, maybe even the world," she jokes. "I want people to understand the mystifying protocols and rituals Māori carry. I want people to see how Māori see, in terms of spiritual elements, especially ancient traditions such as makutu and tapu, even patupaiarehe."

Big dreams for a small person, but Waikohu knows she'll get there one day, especially with all the learning she has under her belt and new experiences she is gaining every day.

"My psych papers have brought me a new vocabulary complete with scientific jargon of the brain, statistics - and a lot of homework! In Sociology I'm gaining an entertaining and humorous view of the strange behaviours of humans.

"It wasn't until I took Sociology that I realised exactly how strange we are as individuals but even more so as a society. It's a very interesting course that lets one step outside of the circle and the square, and sit like a fly on the wall and notice our strange world."

So student life has been great for this Auckland girl, who says every experience she's had at Waikato has been "adamantly positive", confirming all the reasons she had for coming to study here in the first place.

"I chose to study at Waikato for many reasons," Waikohu explains. "First, there is a strong sense of whanau, and I've noticed that no matter who you are and where you come from there is always help and support at your fingertips. Second, I wanted a place where I could be myself as a strong young Māori woman, a place where I could keep hold of my culture and my heritage without getting lost in the city streets. And third, the environment. The scenery at Waikato is so beautiful with lakes and grass and trees everywhere! There are so many reasons to study here."