Source: University of Otago
University of Otago graduands Melanie and Ronnie Taurarii have come a long way to get their degrees.
The couple left Aotearoa New Zealand in June 2019 to return to Melanie’s home in Utah, in the United States, as she was experiencing postnatal depression and wanted to be closer to her mum and sisters. Both Melanie and Ronnie completed their respective Master of Education and Learning degrees with Otago despite moving countries, a pandemic, having a baby (their third), and working full-time.
It has now come time to celebrate their achievements, and the pair, and their three children, touched down in Dunedin on Wednesday afternoon – to surprise their family – ahead of their graduation ceremony on Saturday.
The couple managed to answer a few questions with internal communications adviser Koren Allpress before graduating.
Why did you both go into a Master of Education and Learning?
Ronnie: I’ve always wanted to walk in those graduation parades and wear those regalia outfits, but to do it I had to go to a University here in New Zealand. So, I got to walk with my post-graduate diploma, then decided ‘let’s try getting a Master’s degree’. I chose Education because I like teaching youth. Teaching in a more interactive environment rather than a classroom setting is more my fit.
Melanie: I’d completed my bachelor’s degree in the US in Sport and Exercise Science (physio). When I moved to New Zealand, I’d wanted to further my education as such that would provide an opportunity for me to teach sports medicine at a higher (University) level of education. Initially I’d explored the avenue through the School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences and ultimately decided that was going to be a repeat of my degree of what I’d already completed in the US and did not want to retake similar classes. It would have been nearly triple the cost as I would have to pay the international student fees. After I got NZ residency, I met Dr Berg and approached the Department of Education advisors to see if my passion and love of sport would be amenable through their Master of Teaching programme. This programme was discontinued during my studies, so I had to change to the Master of Education and Learning.
What were you doing for work in NZ prior to your departure?
Ronnie: I was a case manager at Department of Corrections.
Melanie: I was an executive assistant for the Department of Politics at Otago University.
How far through your qualifications were you when you left?
Ronnie: I think I was part way through when we decided to skip town to America.
Melanie: I was nearly finished. All that was left was my EDUC592 paper. We both were taking papers in New Zealand part-time while working full-time and raising our little family. I was also co-coaching girls volleyball at Logan Park High School as well at that time. We were also both heavily involved in volunteer positions at our local Church – the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. To say we were busy is a vast understatement. We valued the importance of education and the opportunities it provides. The networking opportunities at the University of Otago are unparalleled by other universities. The student body are from several different countries, which provides experiences with different cultures – all coming together to further knowledge through education.
How were you able to complete your master’s from USA – was this difficult?
Ronnie: We were able to do a lot of Zoom meetings with my advisor who was a massive supporter of helping me complete this paper. My wife and I had to really push ourselves to the end, all at the same time working full-time and taking care of our children. My beautiful wife was a rock for me in turning my jumbled thoughts and research into something readable and interesting. All the while writing and working on her own research. It wasn’t the ideal situation to pursue this degree at this time of our lives, we just didn’t want to have any regrets later on in our lives for not completing this degree.
Melanie: Completing my Master’s from the USA was extremely difficult. My initial advisor was not responsive and at times I thought I would not finish. I was assigned a new advisor who was encouraging and made the effort for Zoom appointments. Then that advisor started experiencing health issues during COVID-19. I piggy-backed onto my husband’s advisor and together we were able to finish in good time. Without that incredible support, I know I would not have been able to finish as my motivation dwindled with the discouragement of spotty Zoom meetings and deadlines looming.
What do you have planned to celebrate your graduation in Aotearoa New Zealand?
Ronnie: It’s been three years since we were last home in New Zealand, so we are surprising my family (they currently think we are going to Zoom ourselves walking for graduation in our lounge here in the USA, haha) and our mates.
Melanie: We are just excited to come home after a long hiatus of COVID-19 and the country being closed. We can’t wait to shop at the markets and eat some good grub at Mitchell’s Tavern, fish & chips at the dairy, and surprising family. It will be the first time Nana and Papa will meet our youngest, who is 21 months old.
Are you both currently working in education in USA or doing further study or… ?
Ronnie: I am doing further study as an electrical apprentice, currently working on a residential job site to build and connect electricity to 50,000 town homes in the next 204 years. I will complete the apprenticeship in June 2023. With my degree? I’ve continued to expand my knowledge in the field of rugby self-efficacy by connecting with coaches from New Zealand, Canada, the USA, and Japan, all while coaching and refereeing rugby here and using online resources to increase my credibility in the field. By my involvement in rugby here in the states, I’m helping to grow the sport at the grassroots level coaching teams at the South Davis, a rugby club – ages groups are U14, U16 (secondary school) and U6 (primary school).
Melanie: I’m welcoming the much-needed break from studies. Managing the home life, the kids sports and school schedules, working full-time in the hospital, being coach’s wife… I don’t desire further study at this time. I’m an executive assistant for the Intermountain Healthcare OB/Neonatal Operations team, and I do sports physio on the weekends and in the evenings for the local rugby club Ronnie coaches. We have a goal to visit the lowest point in each of the 50 states (mostly because we didn’t want to hike to the highest point with three children under seven years old) and so far we’ve done 11 this year with the time we have back from studies. We’ll support Ronnie through his final year of electrical school and then see what life has to offer.
How different is the education system in the United States to New Zealand?
Ronnie: There is more cultural integration education in New Zealand than in the United States.
Melanie: There was a big difference in the support offered. The Pacific Island Student Centre was a great support to my husband. They helped him with registration, finding the right fit for his studies and the best aligned degree for his interests. [In Dunedin] it was easier to meet in person and get to campus if issues popped-up, than it is to solve issues being half a world away – but with incredible support from our advisors we were able to successfully complete our degrees and look forward to walking at graduation.
The pair say they are “very grateful” for the opportunity to study at the University of Otago and would like to offer a “massive shout out to Dr David Berg”. They believe education opens the door to opportunities, education comes in many different forms, and the traditional classroom is not always the best fit for every student.
