Chloe Banks
Bachelor of Arts with Honours and Master of Arts
Chloe Banks took a wide variety of papers in her first year at Otago.
“I wanted to see what subjects were really like compared with what I thought they might be about. Some things turned out to be not as much fun as they were at school, some I just didn't like, and others would have been hard to carry on with.
“You have to be ready to change direction if you find something you really like, and for me it was my first-year communications papers. I loved them the most.”
Chloe completed a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Communication Studies and a minor in Marketing, and followed this up with a first-class honours degree and a Master of Arts.
“It's ok to change, and it's better to do that than persevere with something that may not really suit you. I changed, but nothing was wasted because I gained a broad range of knowledge from the papers I took but didn't follow up on.”
Chloe now works as a Community Support Co-ordinator for UniFlats at the University, largely providing pastoral care and organising events and outings for international students staying there.
“The role is a mixed bag, but I had the right background in communications, which is a broad subject that includes managing social media, writing for different audiences, cultural awareness and communicating with people from all over the world.”
It also helped to have experienced being new to study at Otago herself.
“Being in a residential college in the first year is always a good experience. You meet a lot of people and make lifelong friends, especially when you go flatting together.
“I found the tutors for papers were lovely and gave good feedback with prompt replies to questions. The facilities were good, and everyone was really approachable.”
Later in her studies, Chloe began tutoring for the Media, Film and Communications Department herself, and may still follow a tutoring path with potential further study down the track.
She advises: “Come to Otago with an open mind. And when you find what you really want to do – go for it.”