Molly Crawford

Life for Molly Crawford has always been closely tied to the Bay.

A lover of salt and sand, fitness and wellbeing, Molly’s newfound desire to help others is what drew her back home.

Already holding a personal training qualification, Molly enrolled at the University of Waikato’s Tauranga campus, cross crediting her previous degree into a Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours), majoring in Psychology.

It was in a first-year Psychology paper, Learning and Perception (PSYCH204), that she discovered her interest in Behaviour Analysis.

“I’ve always wanted to work with people, and I really enjoyed the two Psychology papers I took in my first year before choosing my major,” Molly says.

She credits the Tauranga campus learning environment as a key contributor to her success.

“The lecturers at the Tauranga campus made a huge difference. Having staff who worked directly in the field and took the time to answer questions and genuinely get to know students made the learning experience incredibly engaging.”

A former Pāpāmoa College student, Molly encourages others to make the most of the opportunities available to them.

“The Tauranga campus provides everything you need; its smaller size makes services easy to access and more personal.

“Get involved – join clubs to meet people, apply to be a tutor to strengthen your skills, reach out to your lecturers for guidance, and don’t forget to apply for scholarships. Each opportunity you take will enrich your university experience and open doors for your future.”

One of Molly’s highlights was working as a Sessional Assistant for Psychology papers.

“I found this opportunity so rewarding. It was amazing to run labs, support students through their studies and revisit subjects I had already completed.”

A high-achieving student, Molly is a two-time recipient of the Summer Research Scholarship, a recipient of the Taught Postgraduate Scholarship, and has maintained an A+ average.

She now looks ahead to enrolling in a Master of Applied Psychology, with plans to combine her expertise in behavioural psychology with her passion for health, fitness, and wellbeing as she enters the professional field.