Tayla Afoa

When Tayla came to Waikato from Westlake Girls' High School for and Open Day, the campus caught her eye instantly. "The lakes are beautiful, everything is close together, the University is away from the bustling city and the campus has its own student vibe. Once I got a feel of what the classes and the people were like, I could see myself developing in this area."

She enrolled in a conjoint degree Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws she found she loved the practical side of law. "You experience mock trials, client interviewing, arbitration and negotiations." While studying she was chosen to represent the University of Waikato in Vietnam to compete in the Pacific-Asia Law Student Arbitration Competition. "It was a great experience to learn about Vietnam’s legal and political system and experience the Vietnamese culture."

In summing up her time studying at Waikato she says, "We're all on the same waka while being at University – and the destination is to get off the waka with that little paper and graduation cap."