Covid-19 gave Jasmine Campbell the push she needed to change careers and enrol at university. The transition from tourism industry to teaching has earned her a Vice-Chancellorâs Adult Learnerâs Award and a cash prize.
Jasmine Campbell received a Vice-Chancellorâs Adult Learnerâs Award recognising her academic achievements and social contributions.
Jasmine, 30, had been working in the tourism industry on Australiaâs Gold Coast when the pandemic began, and when visitor numbers declined she decided to move back home for a new start. She is currently in her second year of her Bachelor of Teaching (Primary) degree at the University of Waikatoâs Tauranga campus.
Her decision paid off last Friday afternoon [26 August] when she was awarded the 2022 Vice-Chancellorâs Adult Learnersâ Awards - one of four given out by the University at a ceremony at the Tauranga CBD campus.
The awards recognise the academic achievements and social contributions of outstanding adult learners at the University of Waikato who have chosen to undertake tertiary study later in life.
Recipients have to be at least 25 years old, in their second year of part- or full-time study at the University and be studying towards an undergraduate qualification. The awards were presented at an in-person ceremony by Vice-Chancellor Neil Quigley, and each recipient was also given a cash prize of $1000.
âI was so happy and excited when I found out [about the award],â says Jasmine, who was nominated by one of her lecturers.
âI didnât even know how to write an essay when I first started. It is so nice to be recognised for all the hard work Iâve been putting in. It will also take the financial pressure off as I canât work full-time while studying.â
The former Mount Maunganui College student had travelled to Australia after high school for a gap year, but âone year turned into 10,â she says, with stints working at Dreamworld, Whitewater World and SkyPoint Climb.
Jasmine admits that she âhad no idea what she wanted to do, or if I wanted to go to University,â as a high school student, and returning to study in her late 20s was âa bit scaryâ at first.
âBut I talked to my Nana, who went back to university in her 60s, and she told me that if she could do it, then so could I.â
She chose the University of Waikato because the Tauranga campus is close to home, and the University had a good reputation.
Jasmine enrolled in the Universityâs Tauranga Jump Start programme in January 2021 to help prepare her for tertiary study. The support from lecturers and her experiences as a teaching student on practicum in local classrooms have also been positive.
âSeeing the children grow and develop new skills in the classroom each week was quite rewarding.â
A testament to her academic achievements, Jasmine was recently inducted into the Golden Key International Honour Society. She also works as a student ambassador, and has volunteered at Tauranga Open Day and Virtual Open Day.
In the future, Jasmine hopes to work as a primary school teacher in the Tauranga area, and perhaps do a masterâs degree in Education.
âIâve always loved working with kids,â says Jasmine. âEven when I was working in tourism, teaching kids to surf, I loved seeing them learn.â
Three of the four award recipients - Rebecka Billington, Jo Mariu and Jasmine - are University of Waikato Tauranga students. Jared Kelsen from the Universityâs Hamilton campus also received the award.
