Costas Thrasyvoulou

Meet Costas, a secondary teacher who studied a Master of Arts in Film Studies.

“Because you’re surrounded by like-minded individuals and passionate faculty staff you can’t help but be inspired and motivated to learn.”

University gave me an edge

Since I left Victoria University of Wellington in 2012 I’ve moved into secondary teaching. I currently teach English and Media Studies at Wanganui Collegiate. It was always my plan to bring the expertise I gained at university back to my hometown despite the fact there were fewer jobs in my specific subject areas. Having a Master’s degree from the University gave me the ‘x-factor’ when I was transitioning into teaching and I’m convinced it was one of the reasons I was appointed.

Using the skills I learnt

During my Master of Arts in Film Studies I developed a lot of skills that I now use to help my students. Every student is different and will have their own way of approaching a task. This is something my supervisors at the University understood when they worked with me and it’s fantastic to be able to take on that mentor role myself. It’s so gratifying to watch a student conceive of an idea and then watch them see it through to completion.

Lasting relationships

I loved studying in Wellington because it is a hugely stimulating environment. I met my best friends while studying because so many of us had chosen to study there for similar reasons.

The thing I liked most was that faculty staff developed meaningful relationships with the students and made time for us. I always felt comfortable approaching them about things I was working on and it was not uncommon to sit and have a coffee with them at the campus café!

Love Wellington

Wellington is a great place to study because it really ‘gets’ creative people—they’re everywhere and the city gives them a space to thrive. On a practical level it’s easy to get around, since the city is so compact you can walk everywhere and explore the hidden gems the place has to offer. It’s become cliché to say that Wellington is the cultural capital of New Zealand but it really is. The place just has heart.