Westlake Girls student Candace Tevaga was selected for Hands-On Otago, which is a week-long summer programme for Year 11-13 students to experience university life at the University of Otago in Dunedin. This was an impressive feat, as students from all over the country apply for very limited spaces, particularly for the Health Science group, which Candace applied for.
Below is her account of her experience at Hands-On Otago.
From the 11th to the 16th of January, I had the incredible opportunity to attend Hands-On Otago at the University of Otago in Dunedin. The programme brought together around 400 students from schools all across New Zealand, which made the experience even more exciting. I was extremely fortunate to receive a Pasifika Scholarship, which made the opportunity even more meaningful and special to me.
When we arrived, we stayed at Te Rangihīroa College, which was a beautiful and welcoming hall of residence. I was honestly shocked to find out that we each had our own rooms, and they were incredibly nice, complete with our own bathrooms. It was in a great location and provided such a comfortable stay. The food was amazing, and it really felt like a supportive community from the moment we got there.
On the first main day, everyone was assigned to a project. I was lucky enough to be placed in Health Sciences First Year (HSFY), which became our main focus for the week. This allowed us to experience what first-year Health Science is really like. We explored the laboratories, learned about how lectures work, and got a feel for the expectations of university study. One of the key topics we looked at was the spread of diseases, particularly meningitis. We carried out several practical experiments involving different substances, which helped us understand how infections spread and how they are studied scientifically. It was hands-on, engaging, and made me realise how detailed and fascinating health science is.
Alongside our main project, we each had three “tasters,” where we got to experience other university subjects. Mine were Chemistry, Physics, and Genetics. These sessions allowed me to explore different areas of study and use real university equipment and tools. One of my highlights was in Physics, where we used a Van de Graaff generator. We created a loud spark that sounded like thunder and even formed a human chain so that electrostatic energy could travel through all of us, causing our hair to stand up. It was such a fun and memorable way to see physics in action, especially for someone like me where physics is not their favourite.
Besides the learning and academic aspects, there were plenty of fun evening activities and opportunities to explore the campus and different halls during the week. We had free time to walk around and even visit nearby beaches. As someone who enjoys the gym, I also appreciated the chance to wake up early and walk down to Unipol at 6am to work out or play volleyball. It made the experience feel realistic, like I was actually living the university lifestyle.
On the final night, we had an event called the ‘Big Night Out’ where everyone dressed up according to the theme Out of This World. It was such a fun way to end the week. It gave us a chance to celebrate everything we had experienced together.
What made this experience especially meaningful for me was that I arrived not knowing anyone. Being the only person from my area, I felt nervous at first. However, by the end of the week, I had built so many new friendships and connections that I know I will carry with me for life. I walked in alone but walked out with lifelong memories and friendships and hopefully some that I’ll be able to reconnect with in my next journey.
I think Hands-On Otago is such a valuable opportunity, especially for students who are unsure about their future pathways. For me, coming from Auckland, the idea of moving to Dunedin for university would be a big step. This experience allowed me to truly see what student life is like and helped me picture myself studying there. It has given me confidence, clarity, and motivation for my future, and it is an experience I will always cherish.
By Candace Tevaga