Success. Your way.

Supported to support others

Bernabe Campilan once thought a certificate would be the beginning and end of his tertiary study. Now he’s in the final year of a Bachelor of Social Work at Ara Institute of Canterbury.

His path changed when friends studying social work encouraged him to apply for the degree. Their confidence helped him take a chance. “I didn’t think I had it in me, but here I am,” he says.

Starting tertiary study had felt daunting. He lacked confidence in his academic ability, particularly writing, and was shy about asking for help.

Ara felt like a manageable place to begin. He’d attended a course at Ara through high school and remembered that the campus didn’t feel overwhelming. He started with a certificate in health and wellbeing in 2022 before moving into social work.

The first two years tested him. At first, Bernabe resisted using support services because he thought he should cope alone. His classmates and Ara staff gradually changed his perspective.

His tutors encouraged him to face difficulties rather than withdraw from them, while the support available at Ara helped him keep going.

“They helped me recognise that I had to face my challenges and navigate through them,” he says. “That helped me step outside my comfort zone and persevere.”

Bernabe now sees asking for help as part of succeeding, not a sign of weakness. The experience has built his confidence and shaped what comes next.

After graduating, he hopes to explore social work roles in mental health. He also wants to undertake advocacy work that helps people in his communities to support one another.

For Bernabe, success isn’t about having everything worked out from the start. It’s about learning from mistakes, finding the support to keep moving forward and becoming able to offer that support to others.

Defining success behind the camera

Luke Lamont knew he wanted to work in film and television. What he didn’t know was which tertiary provider or study option would be best to help him achieve that goal.

At high school in Nelson, Luke led the student tech team and studied drama, developing skills across technical and creative production. When it came time to choose his next step, he considered several universities before deciding on a Bachelor of Broadcasting Communications at Ara Institute of Canterbury’s New Zealand Broadcasting School (NZBS).

NZBS offered the combination Luke was looking for: hands-on learning, industry standard facilities and a clear route into a career. Its six-month paid internship in the third year was another strong drawcard, giving Luke the opportunity to gain substantial workplace experience before graduating.

“Seeing that NZBS had a clear pathway into the industry was a big positive for me,” Luke says.

Like many students preparing to start tertiary study, Luke wondered whether he’d made the right choice. Those concerns quickly disappeared though, once the programme began and he got into the practical learning.

“It’s busy, but fun,” he says. “There’s a lot of work, but it honestly doesn’t feel like work half the time. I get to do fun stuff I love, with people I’m really good friends with.”

Support from Ara tutors and staff has helped him settle into his programme and a new city.

“The tutors are so supportive and accommodating,” he says. “Whatever worries or problems you might have, they’re there to support you every step of the way.”

Luke aims to move straight into the industry after graduating. Event videography, camera operating and directing are all possibilities. He hasn’t chosen one role yet, but his measure of success is clear.

“Success is a job I love,” he says.

Success beyond the expected path

Success for Trinity Harris means enjoying her work, taking pride in what she contributes and knowing she has a stable path ahead.

A qualified carpenter working in commercial construction, her days include surveying, marking out, computer-aided design modelling and mapping. It’s a career that brings together hands-on work and technical thinking, but it’s not where Trinity expected to end up.

Going to university had always been part of her plan. Born in Rotorua, she grew up in Ireland, before returning to New Zealand to study engineering at the University of Canterbury.

Trinity enjoyed the practical side of the degree, but when COVID moved classes online, she found it difficult to stay connected. After about 18 months, she left university. “I thought I’d messed everything up,” she says.

While working out her next move, Trinity took a labouring job with commercial construction company Naylor Love. Time on site revealed an industry she hadn’t previously considered and work that suited her practical strengths.

Naylor Love saw her potential and offered her a carpentry apprenticeship through Ara Institute of Canterbury. Despite having no pre-trade training or experience using tools, Trinity took the opportunity.

Ara’s learning approach gave her dedicated time each month to complete theory work, ask questions and learn alongside other apprentices. Her Ara assessor Mark Kyle also helped ensure she gained the varied on-site experience needed to qualify.

“Mark was awesome. If I had any questions, I could call him, even if it was an on-site question. He was the definition of a mentor.”

Four years later, Trinity completed her apprenticeship. She’s thriving as a woman in a male-dominated industry and building a career that draws on both her practical ability and her strengths in maths, physics and theory.

“Success is peace of mind,” she says. “I go to work and I’m happy with what I do. I can see the progress and feel proud that I’m contributing to it.”