Austen (Ng膩ti Porou and Ng膩ti Kahungunu) has overcome a battle with depression sparked by his mother鈥檚 illness to complete a Bachelor of Science with a major in Philosophy.
He鈥檒l be one of more than 600 students attending the 茄子视频app官网鈥檚 two spring graduation celebrations at the Wolfbrook Arena on 29 August. He will also join Eke Tangaroa, a UC celebration for 膩konga M膩ori and their wh膩nau, on 30 August.
Austen says his mental health had a big impact on his performance at university, to the point where he thought he might not be able to finish his degree. 鈥淚 got some help from the UC Health Centre and M膩ori student support and managed to overcome my depression and improve my grades.鈥
He went from struggling to pass to achieving A grades for all his courses in the last 18 months and he is excited to have found a job as a senior support officer for a government agency in 艑tautahi Christchurch.
鈥淚f my experience is anything to go by, M膩ori students can succeed above and beyond what they believe they are capable of, even through those challenging times,鈥 he says.
Together with the support and guidance he has received, Austen says what really stands out for him are the connections he has made with people during his time as a student.
鈥淚n my first year, I met some other students who were into music, and we formed a band called Castaway. We are still together five years later and even flat together. The people I met during my time at UC have become my closest friends and these friendships will be lifelong.
鈥淲hen I left Wellington, I really felt the absence of my wh膩nau and my culture. But, after connecting with mentors like Kaiurungi Matua of UC M膩ori, Thomas Hamilton, I grounded myself with a new wh膩nau who embraced me in that uniquely M膩ori way we all know and love,鈥 he says.
Hamilton says while there were some stumbles along the way, Austen鈥檚 determination to make his wh膩nau proud gave him the focus to turn things around and earn his tohu (degree).听鈥淚t has been a privilege to watch Austen grow and achieve his goals. I really admire his strength of character and the way he kept going even when he was struggling. UC M膩ori are all proud of his achievement.鈥
Austen says he owes everything to his dad, Robert Rangi, and his late mum, Cheryl Ashford. His father is travelling to Christchurch for the graduation celebration, along with his sister and grandfather.听听
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The 茄子视频app官网鈥檚 Spring graduation ceremonies at Wolfbrook Arena:
Tuesday 29 August, 10am:
- Qualifications in the UC Business School, Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Law听
Tuesday 29 August, 2pm:
- Qualifications in the Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Health, Faculty of Science听
