Jenny Martin
2nd-year student, Bachelor of Health Science (Occupational Therapy)
“I would 100% recommend studying occupational therapy,” says Jenny Martin who is currently in the second year of her Bachelor of Health Science (Occupational Therapy).
“After working as a community carer in the UK during COVID-19, I knew that I wanted to change my life and work in healthcare. I originally wanted to be a paramedic however during my first semester studying health sciences at AUT, I realised that the more I researched and looked into occupational therapy the more I realised I wanted to be an occupational therapist.
“It’s a great healthcare profession, and the programme has been really challenging and engaging, with a mix of theory and good practical experience. Occupational therapy allows me to explore my logical and creative brain as I can help people problem solve and get back to the things they need and want to do in life. When I graduate, I’d love to work as part of a rehabilitation team.”
Welcoming and supportive
For Jenny, the friendships and connections she has made have been among the highlights of her time at AUT so far.
“Making friends on my course has been invaluable for me as it meant that when I was going through a problem, whether it was personal or academic, I knew I could count on my friends to help me.
“I’ve also made some really good friendships by joining the student ambassador team. I had a good experience on my re-orientation day and talked to some student ambassadors who said that I should join. I’ve really enjoyed welcoming new students to the AUT whānau. I love being able to offer advice and top tips on how to make the most out of your time at AUT.”
She has also appreciated the support available to students at AUT.
“One of my biggest challenges was when my grandmother, who lived in the UK, passed away during my second semester. I was really struggling with concentrating and feeling emotional during classes. I was unsure of how to balance studying and the grieving process, so I reached out to my lecturers and the pastoral support. They all helped guide me through it. I also ended up needing an extension for one of my assignments and the Student Hub team guided me through that process. I felt very well supported by AUT, and felt proud of myself for having the courage to be vulnerable and ask for help when I needed it.”
Advice for other students
Now in the second year of her degree, Jenny has some great advice for other students.
“Find your reason why you want to study, and make sure to remember that reason through both the good times and the hard times.”
Don’t be afraid to ask for help, she adds.
“If you’re unsure about something and you’ve tried looking for the answers yourself, whether this is academic or otherwise, you can always reach out to someone at AUT. There are so many different people that care about your journey and are willing to help.”
