Work and study juggling act pays off for graduates

Wednesday 30 May 2018

Good things come in threes judging by the experience of Student Central staff Dominique Sayles, Dylan Barrow and Sydney Lash who not only work together but graduate on the same day too.

Work and study juggling act pays off for graduates - image1

Workmates Dominique Sayles (left), Dylan Barrow and Sydney Lash from Student Central at the Wellington campus who all graduated on Thursday.

Last updated: Tuesday 5 July 2022

Good things come in threes, judging by the experience of Student Central staff Dominique Sayles, Dylan Barrow and Sydney Lash, who not only work together but graduated on the same day.     

They juggled the demands of work and study to cross the stage of the Michael Fowler Centre with more than 680 Massey University graduates on Thursday.

Each took the day off from their roles as administrators at the main contact centre for students at the Wellington campus to celebrate many years of balancing commitments that have seen them emerge with their degrees.

All say the key to maintaining the balancing act of work and study is “to keep at it”.

Mr Barrow, who is graduating with a Master of Sport and Exercise, goes further. “If you’re really passionate and interested in something you will find a way to do it.”

In his case, it was researching all about preventive measures for obesity and arthritis and prescriptions for exercise via distance learning papers with the School of Sport, Exercise and Nutrition at the College of Health.

He also undertook a regular study regime, involving up to an hour and a half each night and on some weekends. He converted a room into a study to ensure he kept at it when he needed a change of scene away from the work environment.

Eventually he would like to pursue a career in osteoarthritis management though for now he is enjoying the flexibility his work at university offers too.

That opportunity for flexible work hours has also benefitted Bachelor of Design (Hons) graduates Ms Sayles and Ms Lash.

For two years of her degree majoring in textile design, Ms Lash worked as a residential assistant at Massey’s hall of residence in Wellington called The Cube. She was able to attend classes during the day and in her third year of study be available for duty at the halls in the evening on a week-on and week-off basis. She studied full-time last year while also helping out as a graduate assistant  – something she is keen to advance by eventually teaching full-time at the University.

“Ultimately I would like to be a lecturer and teach. I like working with students and helping them develop their ideas further into a final product.”

Ms Sayles, who majored in fashion design, was also an active student representative serving as international executive with the Massey Wellington Students’ Association, as well as being a class advocate and Massey guide.

She has taken her studies further afield, spending part of last summer in China exploring a possible future in event management as part of the Prime Minister’s Scholarship for Asia.

Her recommendations for juggling work and study include keeping a diary of all class times, work hours and extra-curricular activities to avoid double-booking yourself.

Each believes combining study and working at Student Central, the hub of contact for students with the University’s administration, has made them more appreciative of the demands study can present for first years and other students new to the campus.

“You certainly become more aware of people’s stress levels and understanding and empathetic to them,” Mr Barrow says.

School of Communication, Journalism and Marketing multimedia support analyst Mark Steelsmith is also graduated on Thursday with a Master of Fine Arts.