Why did you decide to study a Postgraduate Certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy?
It's not only about professional development for me, it's about deepening the impact of work I'm doing every day. In my current role as a Senior International Support Advisor at UC, I work closely with students facing academic, emotional, and cultural challenges. I wanted to strengthen my knowledge and skills so I can better support them 鈥 in a way that鈥檚 structured, evidence-based, and compassionate.
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What drives and motivates you?
My purpose is to remove all the barriers for all learners, especially for international students, to help them thrive. I believe education should be empowering, and mental health and wellbeing should be an essential part of it.
For me, returning to study is about both curiosity and commitment. I've always loved learning, but now it feels even more purposeful. I want to keep growing both to be better at what I do and to contribute more meaningfully to the systems I'm part of.
How do you balance your full-time job with your study?
My typical week is quite full on. I work full-time Monday through Friday; however, the programme is designed to be work-integrated learning, which means I can immediately apply the knowledge I learned from the course into my teaching conversation. I do a lot of readings and assignments in the听 evenings or on weekends, so I manage to balance it quite well.
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What do you like about living in Christchurch?
Christchurch is a beautiful city and it's got a perfect combination of history, modernity, and nature. It鈥檚 really vibrant, diverse, and welcoming, and there鈥檚 a strong Asian community, which means that I have a lot of opportunities to have a taste of my home culture. There鈥檚 plenty here, so everybody can find their own place.
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How did you feel returning to study?
At the beginning, I had concerns and uncertainties around whether I would be able to return to learning and adapt to the university environment. I found so much support from the university community and all my lecturers, I鈥檓 now very confident.
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What are your lecturers like?
My lecturers are fantastic. They are very experienced and knowledgeable. I'm really grateful for all the learnings from them that are helping me adopt different teaching strategies to adapt to different learners.
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Have you had any unique opportunities as a postgraduate student at UC?
I've been so privileged to be able to present at many different conferences around the world. It feels amazing to be able to share my knowledge and experience with people who share the same interests and passions.
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How do you maintain a good work-life balance?
I look after my wellbeing by connecting with nature. Christchurch provides lots of opportunity to do that. I love going hiking, especially out at Godley Head. You get a beautiful view of the ocean; it helps me relax, unwind, and let go of any stress. There are also great museums here, lots of exhibitions and galleries.
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What do you want to do after completing your programme?
I want to keep growing 鈥 both as a practitioner and as someone who supports change in the education space. Long-term, I hope to contribute to improving equity and inclusion in higher education support systems. I鈥檇 love to be part of shaping mental health strategies that are more culturally responsive, accessible, and human-centred.
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See other postgraduate study experiences from UC students.
