Masters student Alejandro Maldonado plans on opening a flower shop when he returns to Bolivia.
There’s probably not many people who need extensive knowledge on quadruple witching* hours and qantuta tricolour** flowers. Unless you’re a Master of Finance student who dreams of opening a flower shop in Bolivia, like Alejandro Maldonado.
Alejandro travelled from Cochabamba, Bolivia, to Aotearoa in February this year to study towards a Master of Finance as a Manaaki Scholar.
Alejandro says his decision to study at Otago was somewhat “spontaneous”; he heard of the Manaaki Scholarship just two hours before applications for the scholarship closed.
“With all that in mind, I Googled ‘best universities in New Zealand’ and Otago University appeared first.”
Reading about Otago’s “high reputation” and vibrant campus life, as well as some students’ positive reviews of their academic experience, left Alejandro feeling like it was “a sign” he should study at Otago.
“I’m grateful for that last-minute discovery. Otago has proved to be the best fit for me from education to community, to experiences here. Everything just surpassed my expectations.”
He says his time at Otago has been “nothing short of amazing”.
“Since the very first day of arrival, I was surprised by how easy going the atmosphere is.”
A highlight has been all the people he has met. He says the connections he has made with professors and fellow students has formed a network which will continue to be of “great worth” to him for years to come.
“Each person that I have interacted with, be it through unplanned discussions with locals or friends that I have managed to make, has added to my life in ways that I can hardly describe.”
He says he has had an “excellent learning experience”.
“The quality of teaching and the supportive environment have enabled me to develop some invaluable skills.
“The satisfying feeling of knowledge acquired coupled with personal growth in my time spent here has been invaluable.”
Alejandro will arrive back in Bolivia towards the end of February next year.
“I am very excited to go back home and pursue something that has always been close to my heart: opening up my flower shop.”
He acknowledges that people may find this goal slightly odd.
“I know what you might be thinking—after studying for a Master’s in Finance, why flowers? In fact, it has been my dream for a long time now; I do believe in following my dreams.”
Alejandro says the flower shop will be a “side hustle” for him while his primary career focus will still be in finance.
“The flower shop represents a creative project for me, a chance to bring beauty and joy to people’s lives through flowers.”
When he isn’t assembling bouquets, Alejandro would like to find work as a quantitative financial analyst, in particular, a risk management.
“I particularly look forward to the opportunity of working with data that might facilitate better decision-making in organisations and reduce financial risks. I haven't really completely figured it out yet, but I see great opportunity ahead for me.”
Alejandro feels a “strong sense of responsibility” to contribute to the development of Bolivia.
“Many students from developing countries study abroad and then stay there. Of course, I understand them, but I think it is equally important to bring back our skills and knowledge to our homeland.”
He hopes to implement new financial ideas and knowledge to help Bolivia “become all it can be”.
The International Student Support team host a Completion Ceremony at the end of each semester for Manaaki Scholars to attend, International Student Support Team Leader Simone Freeman says.
“The Manaaki Scholars’ Completion Ceremony is an absolute highlight for me and my team. Accompanying scholars from when they first arrive from their home country into New Zealand to the point where they are ready to complete their qualification is a wonderful part of our roles,” Simone says.
“Their stories are a testimony to their hard work and resilience, and we love celebrating their achievements with them. We are excited about the next cohort of scholars joining us at Otago in 2025.”
*‘Quadruple witching’ refers to a specific hour during each financial quarter, while the **qantuta tricolour is Bolivia’s national flower.
Click here to read about another Manaaki Scholar, Eliana Viali
The Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships provide opportunities for international students to study in Aotearoa New Zealand. The scholarships are offered to eligible citizens from developing countries and can be used for undergraduate or postgraduate study at universities or institutes of technology within Aotearoa.