Crystal Verry

3rd-year student, Bachelor of Business in Marketing with a minor in Management and Leadership

Studying business was an easy decision, says Crystal Verry who is in her final year of a Bachelor of Business in Marketing with a minor in Management and Leadership.

“I wanted to pursue a degree that would enable me to acquire information and abilities that are useful in a variety of industries. I've always wanted to start my own business someday, and I felt this degree would be ideal for exposing me to the ins and outs of the process. I consider myself to be creative, and my love of creative marketing and leadership has developed.”

She says what she liked about AUT was the campus atmosphere and the many amenities available for students. Receiving two scholarships to support her studies and living costs was the icing on the cake.

“The AUT Find Your Greatness Scholarship I was awarded greatly reduced the financial burden that came with my plan to attend university. This enabled me to concentrate more on my studies and less on the burden of paying tuition. I think this scholarship was also a great motivator for me to continue my studies, not give up and try my hardest to receive the best grades I'm capable of.

“I also received the New to UniPrep AUT Accommodation Scholarship, which had a significant impact on my first year of university and my personal development. Living in student accommodation among other students and tutors helped me develop a strong work ethic, which I found to be essential throughout my first year of uni. I also really appreciated the social aspect, as I developed close friendships with other recipients of this scholarship, and was constantly surrounded by the support and encouragement from other group members.”

Building a solid foundation
Crystal says she appreciated the wide range of knowledge she has gained about numerous elements of business.

“Prior to settling on marketing and management, I had the opportunity to learn about many different aspects of business throughout my first year. The various working modes have, in my opinion, made it easier for me to fully absorb the information that is required through group projects, video submissions, presentations and exams.

“The most difficult thing for me to come to terms with at AUT was adjusting to university life and assessments, which I thought were a significant step up from high school. It took time to become used to using APA 7. I also found the structure of university to be a significant step up from high school, as we’re solely responsible for attending tutorials, completing assessments on time and contacting lecturers for help. Fortunately, the professors were helpful in navigating the assessment process.”

With only one more year of her studies to go, Crystal already has a good idea how she sees her future.

“I’d love to advance at Mecca, the retail company where I’m currently working part-time as an operations specialist, by taking the necessary actions to move up the corporate ladder, and apply my management and marketing knowledge. I'm quite interested in social media marketing and might even get involved in the development of new stores in New Zealand. If this isn't the path for me, I want to start my own creative business where I can use my skills to develop a company that demonstrates everything I've learnt. Having had attempts at running a few small businesses, I think that with this newfound knowledge, I’ll be able to do this successfully.”

Advice for other students
Crystal’s advice for other students is simple: get involved in university life and explore your options.

“In terms of social activities and creative student services, AUT offers a lot. There’s a fun blend of enjoyable activities, and resourceful workshops to enable you to discuss your assessment challenges and receive the necessary support.

“For me, student life has been an exciting component as I was able to live in student accommodation for my first year. This gave me the opportunity to become more involved on campus and learn more about the various facets of student life, like the campus performances, the recreation centre, support groups and activity sign-ups.”

Build relationships, she adds.

“Since most new students are anxious and in the same situation, I urge you to actively participate in class and form friendships with other students. Building relationships was really helpful to me since it made it possible for me to ask people for encouragement and support, while also giving support to them. That has made university much more enjoyable and less daunting.”