Jayde Perris

About me

Kia ora, I'm Jayde! I grew up in Auckland and moved to Dunedin in 2024 to study. I remember how overwhelming starting university felt, especially without anyone to ask about the realities of student life, and I want to make that process clearer and less stressful for others. I'm currently a full-time student, working part-time, flatting with six people, and completing an additional online course through Open Polytechnic. So if you want practical insight into managing workload, navigating flatting culture, budgeting, or balancing multiple commitments, I've got you covered. I've also experienced moving from Auckland to Dunedin and first-year hall living, so I'm happy to answer questions about settling in socially or choosing accommodation.

My uni experience

The workload in humanities can vary a lot from semester to semester. Some terms every paper seems to have assignments due on the same day, other terms everything is nicely spaced out. Day to day it's generally very manageable. Most of my papers have two lectures and one tutorial a week, which leaves plenty of time for readings, writing, and planning ahead. I lived at Caroline Freeman College in first year and had a really positive experience. The food was decent, the social side was fantastic, and the hall ran heaps of events, competitions, and mixers. In my view, halls are mostly defined by the people you meet rather than the place itself. Clubs are great but they're a real commitment, so don't sign up for too many or you'll overwhelm yourself fast. Balancing social life and study is definitely easier if you're not working, but even with a job it's still totally doable. The biggest thing nobody tells you is that academics aren't everything. Building a solid social support network matters just as much. And don't feel pressured to make friends immediately. Just because you meet someone first doesn't mean they're your people. It's never too late to find your crowd.

Hobbies

Flower arranging, fermentation projects, museums, travel, cooking, and reading. I also love group activities like flattie pub quizzes, weekly café trips, and saying yes to invites whenever I can.