Tuesday 20 December 2022 4:03pm
Heath, Ashley and Eilish Lie-Olesen. The siblings both graduated with a degree in Anthropology. Their proud father Ashley has worked at Otago for 15 years.
Siblings Eilish and Heath Lie-Olesen celebrated together on Wednesday, 14 December as both graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology.
Their father, Ashley Lie-Olesen, says “I am ecstatic; seeing them achieve this is a pinnacle of raising kids.”
The siblings agree that their parents have been key to their success as they are always supportive, interested and there to listen. The siblings also enjoyed exploring the subject together saying their discussions and collaboration really added to their learning.
The two are four years apart in age and neither took a straight pathway to their respective degrees. Their father thinks giving their children a free rein has been their best decision as parents.
Eilish says “We’ve been given a lot of trust to make our own decisions”, with Heath adding “If it’s not the best decision we also learn from that.”
Eilish left school at 16, with a warning from a school staff member that she would “never amount to anything”. For her, working was a great experience where she learned valuable people skills.
A degree in fashion design at Otago Polytechnic followed, and she has continued this interest working part-time in retail and designing and making her own clothes – including her gorgeous graduation dress.
Anthropology was something she was always interested in, particularly the forensic side when she was younger (mainly due to the influence of TV series Bones that featured a forensic scientist). She’s now thinking of drawing together her interest in anthropology with her people skills for a career in the funeral industry, taking on a caring role of the deceased.
Heath’s path also wasn’t linear. His parents encouraged him to travel overseas to Europe when he was 18 to learn more about himself and the wider world. A one-way ticket and a solo backpacking stint around Europe sparked a love of history, particularly the antiquities.
His studies in Anthropology have tended more towards archaeology, as he enjoys the more hands-on aspect. Heath will be continuing in Honours at Otago.
Heath has also minored in the German language, saying “I love the culture, the language, the food.”
He hopes to go on to study a Master’s at the University of Tuebingen in Germany.
Ashley says he’s enjoyed learning vicariously through his children and seeing them come through Otago. Ashley has managed the campus mailroom for 15 years.