Student Profile

Tara Shaw

Watching television inspired Tara Shaw’s choice of career. “I knew I wanted to do something in the science field,” she says, “ and I was fascinated by the forensic programmes on television.”

Tara’s interest was confirmed at the end of her sixth form year, when she studied pathology as part of Otago’s Hands On Science programme. When she left school, she had a choice between studying medical imaging in Christchurch and medical laboratory science at Otago. Coming from Gore, she’d heard all about Otago’s reputation as a fantastic place for students, so she entered the Health Sciences First Year.

“To start off with I thought it was challenging, but once you got going there were plenty of people to help out, from teachers to other students at the great hall I stayed in. It took to about half way through the first semester to find my feet and then it was great.

“The teaching was mixed. There were some good lecturers, and even if you found one you didn’t connect with, there were others you could go to for help. Everyone was in the same situation, so we often helped each other.”

The social life scores highly. “There are so many interesting people, and everyone’s pretty friendly. There’s a good social atmosphere and lots to do sportswise. Everything is so close together it’s easy to walk everywhere.”

At the end of the foundation year Tara was confident in her choice of medical laboratory science, and she entered her second year successfully. “It was slightly different, but more interesting, and it didn’t take long to adjust.”

Now Tara is in her third year, and already she’s earning as she’s learning. “Through contacts at University I secured a job in a diagnostic laboratory in Dunedin,” she says. “It’s great because I can see what’s going on in the outside world as well as in the academic world, and I’m enjoying it and also getting paid while I’m still studying.”

After graduating Tara hopes to move into forensics and travel overseas.