Otago graduate Rose Abdul Aziz, who was diagnosed with Graves’ disease in her first year, says she hasn’t allowed her experiences to inhibit her or her time at University.
When you ask tauira Rose Abdul Aziz what the highlights from her time at Otago have been, the list is long and mighty.
There was the Otago Global Student Exchange to the University of Toronto, Canada, last year. Or being one of the founding members of the Otago Disabled Students Association (ODSA). Also up there was writing about her experiences as an Arab law student in an article called ‘Where the Arabs At’ for Estoppel – the Otago Law Students Society magazine.
But one of the biggest highlights for Rose will be graduating today with a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts majoring in politics and minoring in religious studies and Indigenous development.
Rose initially planned to go in a different direction – completing First Year Health Sciences – but made the decision in her second year to “follow her heart” and study law and politics.
“I’ve always had an interest in social sciences, having grown up surrounded by conversations regarding politics from a very young age,” Rose says.
“As I got older, I started to become aware of the injustices many have faced in the past and continue to do so.
“I often found myself being an advocate for the Arab and Muslim community, especially growing up in spaces where I was one of the only representations of my people. I took it upon myself to educate those around me.”
Rose, who describes herself as “a total mixed bag”, was born in Malaysia, lived in Christchurch, moved back to Malaysia for three years, then moved back to New Zealand, spending the majority of her life in Dunedin.
“I consider Dunedin home, however I whakapapa to Iraq and am a proud Arab-Kurd young woman. I grew up very strongly immersed in my Iraqi culture and speaking Arabic.”
Rose started university in 2019, just months before the Christchurch terrorist attack.
“To have seen such injustice occur so close to home and harm caused to my community, it only caused me to become more passionate about the legal system to ensure that such injustices do not occur again, promoting safety, peace, tolerance and inclusivity in our wider communities.”
A highlight for Rose was going to Canada for a semester last year as part of the Otago Global Student Exchange.
Rose has also been a passionate advocate for disabled students at Otago, spurred on by her own experiences in first year when she was diagnosed with Graves’ disease – an immune system condition that affects the thyroid.
“It was so difficult to navigate a whole new environment, new studies, and a new illness. My sister referred me to DIS (Disability and Support) at Otago, which at that point I didn’t even know existed.
“I was able to establish a wonderful relationship with the team – a special shout out to its manager Melissa Lethaby and my student advisor Rachel Aluesi – and access some of its wonderful services, which aim to foster an equitable environment on campus, allowing for disabled tauira to have access to services and accommodations that allow us to thrive.”
Rose encourages students to look past the stigma of the term “disability” and recognise that DIS provides a range of services for disabled people, people with medical impairments, mental health and learning difficulties and more short-term ailments such as a concussion or a broken arm.
“Its services range from providing extra time, rest breaks, reader-writers, separate rooms, access to lecture notes and tutoring, and this has been an absolute godsend for me throughout my experience. I doubt I would have been able to thrive as much without having access to its services and accommodations.”
Inspired by DIS, Rose and a group of fellow students worked to establish the Otago Disabled Students Association (ODSA), which aims to promote inclusivity, accessibility, acceptance and allyship on campus.
“We wanted a space run by students, where the disabled voice on campus was empowered and where we were able to foster a strong sense of community amongst each other and allies.”
Rose has been involved with ODSA from its brainstorming phases in late 2019 to its official launch event in 2021 and has sat on the executive in various positions: general executive (2020-2021), co-president (2022) and treasurer (2023).
“ODSA does a range of things, be it sitting on the Academic and Wellbeing committee at OUSA, writing submissions regarding different matters we were advocating for to the University, holding forums and panel discussions, hosting our regular disabilities events, and various other social things, such as quiz nights, movie nights and collaborations with other clubs, such as the Art Club and UniQ.”
Rose, pictured bottom right during a tennis exchange with the University of Canterbury, has been president of the Otago University Tennis Association since 2023.
Being part of ODSA is just one of the many ways Rose has made the most of her time at Otago.
“I’ve been super busy, generally taking five papers per semester, being involved in a wide array of clubs (co-president of the Otago Disabled Students Association in 2022, president of the Otago University Tennis Association since 2023 and involved in the Otago Muslim Students Association Executive).
“I also volunteered at the local Community Law Centre interviewing clients and communicating legal advice, was a summer clerk in Crown Law, and attended dance classes through the Otago Dance Association, while also maintaining a social life and working multiple jobs.”
Next year, Rose will take on a graduate solicitor role at Oranga Tamariki's National Office in Wellington.
"I'm very excited for this as it will involve challenging but rewarding work,” she says.
When you ask Rose what she’s most proud of from her time at Otago, the list may be shorter but it’s just as mighty.
“I’m most proud of myself where, in the face of adversity, I’ve been able to keep my head held high and not give up.
“I’ve not allowed my experiences to inhibit me or my time at University, but rather, it’s provided a driving force to be fully involved and live life to the fullest.”
– Kōrero by Internal Communications Adviser Laura Hewson