Xarya

At the end of Year 13, after choosing to study a Law and Commerce conjoint at Waipapa Taumata Rau, I spent a lot of time combing through scholarship databases to see what I was eligible for. It was then that I came across the Kōkiri Raumati Scholarship for students who were attending university for the first time. I did some further research and discovered that Summer Start 2025 was offering one of the core papers that I needed for the commerce part of my degree, STATS108. I guess you could say that the rest is history!

I am so glad that I kicked off my studies with Summer Start, because it truly exceeded my expectations. From dessert crawls to afternoon barbecues, craft sessions and karaoke, Summer Start showed me that university life is just as much about being spontaneous and making new friends, as it is about working hard to excel in your studies. Learning to find that balance was one of the most valuable lessons in Summer Start, and we had amazing mentors who supported us in the transition from high school to uni. The meet-and-greets with different support services within the university were also great opportunities for students to ask questions, and the free Hiwa membership was another awesome perk!

Looking back, though, the best part about Summer Start was the friends that I made and still see every day. Going into Semester 1 of uni was so much less daunting with all of the familiar and friendly faces around. I met a lot of students who were likeminded, had the same drive and ambitions as myself and many were also completing a BCom/LLB. Summer Start was foundational to finding my people and my place at The University of Auckland.

Xarya was a Summer Start student in 2025 and is studying a Bachelor of Commerce / Bachelor of Laws conjoint degree.