Driven to succeed: Vianca’s ambitious journey through Massey

Originally from Hawke’s Bay, Vianca crossed the stage at Palmerston North’s Regent Theatre in May, celebrating the culmination of a journey that was anything but ordinary. Her decision to study at Massey was influenced by her father, a Massey PhD graduate.

“I wasn’t overly optimistic about moving to Palmerston North at first, but I focused on the positives and reminded myself to make the most of the opportunity.”

She moved into the Halls of Residence in 2022 and began her Bachelor of Business. During Massey’s Ignite sessions, Vianca learned about the option to accelerate her studies through Summer School. With the help of academic advisors, she created a plan that allowed her to complete her undergraduate degree in two years.

Originally majoring in management, Vianca soon discovered a passion for finance.

“Management wasn’t as challenging as I’d hoped. I loved the finance fundamentals course and decided to switch majors,” she explains.

The decision paid off. She went straight into a Master of Finance in early 2024 and now, a year later, she has walked away with both qualifications under her belt.

Vianca’s path wasn’t without challenges. Starting university shortly after the COVID-19 lockdowns meant there was a lot of remote learning, a tough adjustment for someone expecting the full campus experience.

“It was difficult at first, but it taught me resilience. I built a study schedule, stayed connected with friends and family and kept reminding myself of the bigger picture.”

Time management and burnout were also realities Vianca had to face.

“It took me that first semester to really get into the rhythm of university life. I learned to use planners, calendars and assignment trackers to stay on top of everything. When burnout hit, I made sure to take a break, sometimes just a couple of days was enough to reset.”

Vianca credits much of her success to the support she received at Massey.

“The academic advice services were incredibly helpful in mapping out my study path. The library services, like EndNote tutorials and assignment feedback, really helped me in my early days.”

She also found a strong sense of belonging through Massey’s Pacific community and gave back by becoming a tutor herself.

“It was really rewarding to support other students after receiving so much support myself.”

Vianca is now working in a graduate role with PricewaterhouseCoopers in their private business team.

Her advice to those considering university is to just do it.

“The time will pass anyway, so use it to invest in yourself. University isn’t just about getting a degree, it’s about discovering what you’re capable of.”