When the student becomes the master

Nooroa Tamarua has a unique story of success.

Nooroa’s natural talent for nurturing success was originally evident through her involvement in her community where she guided and supported others towards a meaningful career, whilst always maintaining her philosophy of “work smart, not hard”. It wasn’t until she saw a newspaper advert for enrolment onto Early Childhood Education programmes, that she realised her potential to transfer her leadership skills into a meaningful career for herself.

Nooroa consequently enrolled on a level 3 early childhood education programme at New Zealand Career College. Her potential was quickly realised by NZCC’s tutors, and so she advanced onto the level 5 National Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Care. Upon completion, she continued her studies at AUT as a student of the National Diploma in Teaching (ECE, Pasifika) programme. Graduating meant she could finally put her knowledge into action, and her ECE career started as an Early Childhood Educator at a South Auckland pre-school.

But Nooroa’s talent for leading individuals towards something better, was still yearning to be put to good use. This is when she applied for her position she is now employed, as an ECE lecturer at New Zealand Career College, the very place her ECE experience began. While the ink was still drying on her employment contract, Nooroa gave her alumni address to NZCC’s graduates of 2009 from the Waitakere, Manukau, and North Shore campuses. She urged students to utilise the support that NZCC offers its students. Nooroa stated that NZCC’s “door was always open; the team were available to talk about anything. Without NZCC [she] would not be able to join one of the fastest growing private tertiary educators in our community”.

Nooroa’s return to NZCC on the other side of the table, as a lecturer rather than a student, is a shining example of what can be achieved if you choose to make that step and apply for a programme at New Zealand Career College.

Graduation success for NZCC 2009 students

The celebrations were out in full-force for New Zealand Career College’s graduates of 2009. It was the first year that graduates of the Manukau, Waitakere and North Shore campuses united under one roof to celebrate their achievements at their graduation ceremony.

Held at the Ellerslie Event Centre on 25th March 2010, the following graduates were joined in their revelry by many of their family and friends in addition to NZCC staff and other education professionals:

Triana Ama, Heneli Anasi, Kim Leong Ang, Deepika Arora, Oneone Aso, Tagiilima Asoua, Raewyn Ann Ballingall, Louise Robyn Blayney, Amelia Briggs, Ana Leota Brown, Dianne Turahira Brown, Charles William Cass, Robin Jonathan Channing, Li Hua Chen, Dareshni Chetty, Olivia Milne Clark, Lianne Sherral Connon, Brigitte Kathleen Patric Corban, Hannah Marie Davison, Swasthika Devi, Geetanjali Dhingra, Luthy Elazegui, Sylia Aine Evile, Mau Setilina Felanuai, Faalata Galumalemana, Anjani Gounder, Olivera Gurbanski, Julie Anne Green, Jessie Kai Hakaraia, Jessica Holly Harrold, Natasha Ann Hopkinson, Shahnaz Younis Hussein, Salo Iuli, Aileen Mary-Anne Jack, Mishelle Jackson, Olivia Hazel Jones, Anita Joshi, Nashida Katu, Kulwant Kaur, Kulwinder Kaur, Rawandeep Kaur, Tejinderjit Kaur, Amanda Trish Kelemete, Vincent Adam Kellerman, Areefa Khan, Joseph Harawira Kingi, Arpana Jotishna Kumar, Shalini Shobna Kumar, Rosleen Neelam Kumari, Christina Cassandra Larsen-Gillard, La Leau, Helen Grace Little, Guo Long Liu, Haualofa Maamaloa, Narann Mao, Lisa-Maree Malachos, Stephen Wayne Mason, Margriet Elizabeth Materman, Susan Ira McAndrew, Michelle McCall, Kyra McRae, Hitihamillage Uditha Meegolla, Jennifer Anne Mist, Fatima Sharon Mohammed, Zakhia Mohammed, Meena Mooni, Poseta Muaimalae, Chanelle Sophie Nielsen, Shirley Noeline Nightingale, Yasmeen Nisha, Jean Evelyn Niua, Anthony O'Connor, Francesca Yasmin Omar, Hyun Soon Park, Saroja Devi Pillay, Ramita Pradhan, Tutonu Prakash, Zillah Jasinta Prakash, Vikashni Devi Prasad, Teremoana Puna, Feauini Lavinia Putohe, Susieni Fevaleaki Raass, Mariam Rammahy, Sara Reda, Shay Annie May Rickard, Lisa Riini, Ashleigh Richardson, Jade Alice Helen Roberts, Chelsee Joy Robertson, Sheba Ruth Rore, Ranjani Sami, Peyali Sarkar, Rose Schmeiser, Lourdes Georgette Shear, Ana Alopa Sika, Vicky Hazel Silva, Monique Simons, Ashna Singh, Selesitina Solomua, Leah Anita Soppit, Michelle Sylvia Soppit, Tevita Tuieti Sovea, Michelle Lee Steiner, Malia Lekelita Suaesi, Kayla Swindail, Samantha Tahere, Lorraine Taniora, Mulifusi Tapaleao, Joahnie Rosalie Taripo, Julie Honey Maumau Tenisoni, Rawinia Thomas, Rebecca June Thompson, Tuwai Rangimaria Timoti, Nuuausala Toilalo, Darron Solomon Tuagalu, Konofesi Tuioti, Nastazia Rangi Hairoa Pa Turner, Ariana Vemoa, Susana Viliamu, Kendall Waaka, Rachel Marie Walker, Parveena Wati, Tiffany Jane Wolfreys, and Shuang Mei Zhang.