Rhona Aran is a citizen of the world.
This Otago graduate might live in New Zealand, but her passion for learning about different cultures and languages, giving back to society and making a positive difference embodies a citizenship not defined by borders.
She crossed the stage today with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Global Studies.
Her passion for languages and culture was ignited early on stemming from a childhood spent across the UK, Nepal, India, and New Zealand, she says, and while studying at Nelson College for Girls she decided to pursue a degree in humanities.
Hands-On at Otago – a week-long University experience for secondary school students - sealed the deal when it came to choosing a university, Rhona says.
“After attending Hands-On at Otago, I decided that I wanted to live and study in Dunedin. It also helped that my twin brother was keen on Otago, which meant I had someone to split the petrol money with for the drive down.”
Hands-On at Otago is also where she learned about the Global Studies programme.
“It seemed to be the perfect area of study for me, combining my interest in languages and the humanities.”
A key component of the degree was an applied research project, which gave her the opportunity to do an internship in a non-governmental organisation (NGO).
“Coming from a family deeply involved in the social sector, this aligned well with my personal ambitions.
“I’d also been interested in international development for quite some time, and the chance to understand the role of NGOs in this space really appealed to me.”
First Steps Himalaya, an Aotearoa-based NGO founded by her parents, was the obvious choice for her internship, Rhona says.
Established in 2008, First Steps Himalaya works to give tamariki in rural Nepal access to quality early years education.
Rhona spent two months in Nepal working with the local team, learning about the “day-to-day logistics of running a charity”.
“It was especially interesting, given the unique challenges of life over there. Even getting from one place to another presented huge obstacles, with the car often breaking down on the steep, rocky roads omnipresent in the hills of rural Nepal.”
Connecting her academic mahi to her mahi for First Steps Himalaya has been a rewarding journey, Rhona says.
Her time in Nepal helped her gain a greater understanding of the NGO sector and the complexities that come with working within a different culture, she says.
“As well as being able to contribute to something that is really important to me and my family, it gave me the opportunity to explore my personal identity as both a New Zealander and a Nepali.”
Rhona is now looking forward to spending the next year working and travelling but is hoping to return for postgraduate studies at some point, she says.
Professor Paola Voci, Director Global Studies, says Rhona has been “a true inspiration within the Global Studies learning community”.
“I am so proud of Rhona,” Professor Voci says. “Over her years of studies at Otago, she has stepped into the unfamiliar and learned about languages and cultures beyond her own, while also giving back to her community.
“For me, Rhona truly embodies the key connection between personal growth and social responsibility. She is the best of what global citizenship should be about - an open mind driven by human solidarity."
~ Kōrero by Sandra French, Adviser, Internal Communications