Transcript: Case study – Zak
We hear from Zak, a second-year student, about how he chose his course, and the different ways you can fund your study. He tells us about the challenges and opportunities created by balancing study with part-time work and how he learned about all the different types of scholarships that are available.
Zak is talking to us from outside his education provider.
Hi, I'm Zak, doing a Diploma in Contemporary music up at here at tech in Auckland.
I love music, it's my passion, what I see myself doing in the future.
So I did a little bit of research beforehand, talked to a few mates and different people that are already in the industry, and they suggested that maybe this is the course for me.
Had a look on the Careers NZ website, and it pulled it all together, different courses for what I wanted to do, and different options.
Living down the road next to tech actually - it's mainly to save on money, so I'm not spending money on buses and trains and stuff like other mates who are doing the course. This is my first year of flatting so had to have a wee juggle around of funds to make sure I'm getting everything right - paying the rent, all of the bills that are involved and that.
I got a scholarship actually, for a couple grand a year. I just went on the website and there's heaps of different scholarships out there for all sorts of different people. I didn't really realise but it's worth doing some research and trying to find one. But yeah, managed to secure one, couple of grand a year, so I'm stoked!
No I don't have a Student Allowance - I wasn't eligible but I could get a Student Loan so that's what I did. Kind of pretty keen to start travelling and buying a bit of production gear as soon as I finish really, so the less I have to pay back, the more I've got in the future.
I applied when I was still in high school. I just wanted to secure my place on the course so just had to make sure I had it all sorted right from the start.
Yeah I'm a part-time DJ on the weekends actually, just spinning some tunes. It's heaps of fun, it's already submerged me into the music industry which is good, gives me a one up on everyone else once I graduate. It gives me a little bit of extra money because I've got to pay for all those other things. I got my course fees sorted, got a little bit of cash on the side, so everything's going well so far.
Ah yeah, advice, yeah sure, ahh... Have a look on Student Job Search, they're amazing actually. It's good because they can tailor a job for you that will get you into the industry and also maybe be able to help you juggle your work around your school work so that they're not overlapping and you're not missing out on anything.
