Connection and camaraderie key to success
Master of Health Research graduate Jess Shaw says she wouldn’t be where she is today without the support of her academic peers and teachers.
One of her fondest memories, which she admits she doesn’t advocate for these days, is in late nights studying with friends.
“Sharing snacks, listening to music, chugging through your literature reviews together. Not only can you help each other from an academic perspective, but that camaraderie is more motivating than anything else.”
Jess graduated from Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington with a Bachelor of Science majoring in Psychology and Criminology in 2015, and completed her Honours in 2016. Although she knew she wanted to do her Master's, she was worried that she was putting too much pressure on herself too soon.
“I remember thinking about it for a long time, to the point of overthinking it. I was worried that if I left, would I want to come back?
“In hindsight, I was putting too much pressure on myself to complete everything all at once, but in the end decided to take a break.”
Jess spent a year in Hawkes Bay doing psychology and nutrition research, and another year in Christchurch working in community health support.
“I’m really glad I took the break that I did. I needed that time to think about what it was that I actually want to do. Making that decision to leave meant that when I did come back, I was in a much better place.”
Jess joined the newly established Welington Faculty of Health in early 2019 as one of the first cohort to pursue the Master of Health Research.
“There were a lot of people starting fresh at the same time as me, and there were so many academics who really cared—about their research, about making academia a better place, and mostly about their students.”
Jess says she struggled with her physical health through her Master's, as well as the academic side of things, but being around the people in the Faculty made it easier.
“They smoothed out the bumps. I think sometimes when you’re in university you underestimate yourself—your abilities and your knowledge. You feel young and like you don’t have much to offer, but with the support of the academic staff I realised that I could achieve what I set out to.”
She remembers her supervisor at the time, Dr Terry Fleming, giving her a pep talk to speak at a conference.
“She convinced me that I was not going to make a fool out of myself, despite my beliefs, and that what I had to say was important.
“Terry believed in me, and it was incredible to have that support to help me realise that my work was going to be useful to share and that I could represent it well.”
Beyond her own self-confidence, Jess said the access to lecturers and academics within the Wellington Faculty of Health has greatly helped her career too.
“It’s given me the opportunity to meet people, whether through meetings, conferences, or at the University. These relationships have really supported me in doing the work I want to do.”
Jess submitted her final thesis over two years ago, and these days is a Senior Advisor for Te Whatu Ora—Health New Zealand’s Health Promotion Directorate, within the mental wellbeing team, leading the redevelopment of the depression.org.nz website.
She says one of the biggest things she’s taken from University through to the workforce is the importance of soft skills.
“Knowing stuff is useful, and sometimes essential to your work, but my studies at the Faculty taught me so much more than that.
“It taught me how to find the answers to my questions, to communicate not only what I found in my research, but what I didn’t find, and how to explain that to different audiences—let alone the interpersonal skills you develop and the connections you make.”
Her biggest piece of advice to any future students though: trust yourself.
“Whether it be imposter syndrome, doubting what you know, or thinking that because of your age and experience people won’t take you seriously, don’t believe it.
“There are so many people out there who are passionate about the same things that you are and wanting to solve the same problems you do.”