Samoan student finds community and Pacific Island pride at Otago University

Massey High School graduate Christian Lio-Willie says that although the University of Otago’s Health Sciences programme’s reputation was a main factor in choosing to study in Dunedin, receiving two prestigious entrance scholarships took the financial pressure off and encouraged him to make the move south.

A talented rugby player, Christian received both a Performance Scholarship as well as a Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship, together valued at $20,000 over three years.

The university’s Performance Scholarship is awarded to academically able students like Christian who demonstrate high-level ability in their chosen area of performance, whether, sports, culture, music or arts.

Now several months into his Health Sciences First Year programme, Christian says he’s well settled in and has found the mix of papers he is taking to be interesting.

Each paper relates to different parts and functions of the human body, giving a well-rounded preliminary entrance to health sciences, he says.

“There is quite a variety of lecturers and their differences all cater for the different learning styles of students.”

During the academic year, Christian lives at Salmond College, one of 15 residential colleges on or near Otago’s Dunedin campus.

In Salmond, he says he’s found a friendly social environment to balance out the study-oriented focus of university.

“Being in a residential college has definitely influenced both my study and social aspects of my life as well as helping me bridge the gap between high school and university to start off on my first year.”

Outside of his study, Christian plays for the local Kaikorai rugby team, though an injury earlier in the season means he’s been playing more football, netball and volleyball for his residential college of late.

As a student of Samoan heritage, Christian receives additional guidance from the Pacific Orientation Programme at Otago, which supports Pacific Islands students in health science programmes.

“The mentoring programme has helped me greatly in learning new material and balancing a healthy lifestyle while preparing for exams. My mentor Eric has closely watched over my progress and the regular catch-up sessions with him have definitely helped me stay grounded.”

Christian prides himself on keeping up with his support system back home, and says his friends and family have been his motivation and pride to do his best in his studies. He credits carrying the same values and beliefs that he grew up with to his new environment in Dunedin, and says the sense of community he found in Dunedin and the University of Otago has been really important.

“My impression of the university is that it is a prestigious and well-oriented learning environment that brings the best out of its students – but also expects the best from its students.

“Dunedin itself is a very safe and easy going town that in comparison to Auckland is very small. Everything is within walking distance which saves a lot of time in your day if you have heaps of places to be. I'd say Dunedin is pretty sweet.”

Learn more about University of Otago Entrance Scholarships [http://www.otago.ac.nz/entrance-scholarships].