Maiya Kumar

About me

Hi! I'm Maiya. I was born in Fiji and grew up in West Auckland, where I attended Avondale College. In 2019, I packed up and moved to Dunedin to begin my adventure at the University of Otago. Since then, I've completed Health Sciences First Year, graduated with a Bachelor of Oral Health, worked as an Oral Health Therapist, and now I'm back at Otago studying Dental Surgery. I think this programme is something I genuinely wish had been available when I was in Year 13. Over the past few years, I've navigated Health Sci First Year, the pressure of applying for competitive programmes like Medicine and Dentistry, flatting, budgeting, making new friends, and transitioning into life as a healthcare professional. Whether you're trying to choose a university, wondering what Health Sci is really like, feeling nervous about moving away from home, or simply unsure about what comes next, I'd love to share what I've learned.

My uni experience

The workload in health professional degrees is definitely more demanding than I expected. One of the biggest surprises was how structured the days were. I often had classes, labs, or clinics from around 8am until 5pm, which was quite different from many of my flatmates studying other degrees who had more free time during the day. I flatted in my first year. Going to a residential hall is a rite of passage, but I was very lucky to get into a good flat. Halls in Dunedin are usually the way to go, but they're not suitable for everyone. If you decide to flat, the university still provides the same academic resources and support. You meet people from all walks of life and discover who you are. University really broadened my perspective and opened my eyes to different people, cultures, and ways of thinking. Clubs are a great way to make friends, but something no one tells you is that it's also important to have something extra in your week to break up your time, so you're not always studying and always have things to look forward to.

Hobbies

Travelling (currently planning a long-awaited Euro Summer!) and playing Stardew Valley and Mobile Legends to unwind.