Jack Styles

Growing up, Jack Styles had early exposure to the health system through a close family member with a disability, which sparked an interest in health from a young age.

“That experience made me want to understand the health system more deeply,” he says. “Studying health just felt like a natural next step.”

What Jack discovered through the Bachelor of Health Sciences was a degree far more diverse and flexible than he expected.

“Early on, I realised this was the right path for me because I found the material so interesting,” he says.

“The degree completely changed how I think about health. It’s not just about treating individuals, it’s about understanding the systems, policies, and structures that shape outcomes for entire populations.”

One of the things Jack values most about the degree is the ability to explore different interests and career pathways.

“It allows you to discover what you’re genuinely interested in, rather than being locked into one pathway from day one,” he says. “I’ve realised the flexibility of the degree is actually one of its biggest strengths. It gives you the freedom to carve out a pathway that genuinely suits you.”

Jack has also been surprised by how practical and transferable the skills developed through the programme are.

“You build communication, critical thinking, data analysis, and health systems knowledge in a way that applies across so many different areas.”

Alongside the learning itself, university life has also pushed Jack to grow personally.

“Being surrounded by motivated, like-minded people has challenged me to work harder and think differently,” he says. “The people you meet and the experiences you have outside the classroom become just as valuable as the academic side.”

Looking ahead, Jack hopes to use the skills he’s gained to improve outcomes for New Zealanders and make a meaningful difference through his future career.

“Wherever I end up, I want to do work that has a real impact on people’s lives.”