Ashleigh Ngow
What are you studying?
I am studying a Bachelor of Environmental Planning degree.
Where are you from?
I come from Tauranga Moana, more specifically from a small coastal village called Maketū. However, I attended high school in Te Puke.
Why did you choose the University of Waikato?
I chose the University of Waikato because I personally felt as though I already had a connection with the University. After visiting the University for different events like ChemQuest and getting to know the Student Ambassadors in Tauranga, it felt like the right University for me. Waikato offers a great Environmental Planning degree as well as offering a range of papers which also interested me. Additionally, my brother is also studying at the University of Waikato which solidified my choice.
What do you like about studying at Waikato university?
I genuinely believe that University’s motto ‘Ko Te Tangata, For the People’ reflects the student experience at the University of Waikato. The people I have met here are what have made my experience so special. It feels as though I have made a second family here at University. I have crossed paths with these people in my papers, in the halls of residence, through sport and volunteering. People always talk about how wonderful university is, in the way that it broadens your horizons and allows you to find the people that you truly connect with and belong with. I did not truly understand how true this is, and I was surprised to have met individuals that are so similar to me; individuals that care about the same things. These people have made my time so far at university exciting, manageable and special.
What are your hopes for the future?
I have always been someone that likes to help others. I want to have a career in which I can help people to want to look after the environment. I would like to be someone who shows people that sustainable living does not have to be unaffordable, unachievable, or ‘too hard' - that instead, it is something that can be easy, convenient and worth doing. I hope that I can live in a world in which everyone genuinely cares about the environment and the impact they have on it. I believe that this begins with education and awareness and is enabled by thorough planning and problem-solving. I want to be involved in this process.
What inspires you?
The positive impact I can have on others is what drives and inspires me. I care about people and I care about the environment. I believe that everyone can make a difference, and I want to be someone who shows people this.
What would you like to do when you graduate?
When I graduate I hope to gain experience in the workforce in a role related to planning, people and the environment.