Alex completed his undergraduate study at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington in 2022, before completing his Honours degree in 2023 and starting his Master’s after that.

“When studying the ancient world, we often focus on major historical events or figures. This approach leads us to forget about regular people and their everyday lives. I find that studying the food people ate and how they thought about it can give insight into this oft-forgotten side of the ancient world.”

Alex says he chose to study at Victoria University of Wellington for two reasons. “The big draw is the University’s Classics Museum,” Alex says. “It’s inspiring to be surrounded by objects from the ancient world during study, and a great privilege to be able to hold some of them for myself.”

The second reason, he says, is the city of Wellington itself. “I grew up in Auckland but have really enjoyed living in this city. It has quickly become a second home for me.”

Alex has also valued the people he has met during his time as a student. “The staff are incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about all areas of the ancient world and they’re also very approachable and generous with their time.

It’s not just the staff that Alex has found support in. “The Classics department has a great student community, too. Everyone—from undergrads to PhD students—has been super welcoming, and there’s a real shared passion for Classics.”

Alex says his most valuable experience has been learning ancient Greek. “I’d never studied a language before, and the courses were the most challenging and intensive I’ve taken during my time here. Being able to engage with ancient sources in their original language has been extremely rewarding for me.”

After completing his research, Alex hopes to go into teaching as a career.

Alex has worked as a teaching assistant while studying and says this “look behind the curtain” has been a real highlight. “It's been an incredibly valuable experience to pass some of my knowledge on to undergraduate Classics students, and I've found myself learning from them just as much. It has sparked an interest in doing a formal teaching qualification and in 2023, I took two undergraduate Education papers.”

He says studying Classics has also taught him a lot of skills that will be useful in a teaching career, including writing skills, time management, and critical thinking skills. He also says Classics has taught him a lot about himself and how he thinks about the world.

“People often ask me about how my degree will translate into a career, and I know this is a concern for many people entering study. The advice I would give is to do what you’re passionate about—you’re always going to learn more if you do something you love.”