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First-year flailing
Goal: halp me
Motivations
Had a bumpy start to university. Was struggling in class as a result of some over-ambitious course planning decisions. Knows he needs to get some help from someone but is a bit embarrassed. We can help by making it easy for him to find out who to talk to.
Six months in, he has dropped some courses and connected to the Awhina programme. Doing better academically and feels more at home at university. Likes hearing about big Victoria 'wins' as this reinforces his decision to come here. Getting interested in student politics.
Persona based on
Current student interviews: So, T and R.
SAS persona: Tim.
Gen Y tribe: Solitary saver
Scenario
- Male
- 18 years old
- 1st year, studying Bachelor of Science, with a double major in physics and philosophy
- From Nelson
- Halls
- Shy and quiet
- Likes playing computer games in his spare time. Not a party animal
- Working part-time
- Self-development aspect of university life important to him
- Mainly influenced by his family - dad in particular
"My dad knows me better than anyone, he can tell me what things are best for me and give advice."
"I expected that university would be hard. That everything would be hard - meeting people, learning how the city worked. Everyone told me that lecturers don't care about you. I was a bit worried about the workload."
"I’m still finding my feet with my studies and work really hard in my courses/papers. I know my shortcomings so I seek help from a support staff member that I feel I can trust.
"I worry about not passing or progressing further."
"My dad knows me better than anyone, he can tell me what things are best for me and give advice."
Challenges:
- Found it a bit daunting finding his way around campus in the first trimester
- Is intimidated by lecturers so seeks help from his peer group instead
- Stressed about not achieving as well as he thinks he should.
Technology and internet
Communications preferences:
- Enjoys finding out about things through word of mouth or at lectures.
- Emails are fine too.
- Checks Blackboard but is nervous about participating in conversations.
- Signed up to a course FB page but only reads the discussions - he's too shy to post anything.
Social media: Occasionally checks his personal Facebook page, but is a bit sick of Facebook - and worries about Facebook privacy.
Favourite sites: Downloads most of his music and also uses Spotify. Downloads movies.
Technology:Laptop, smartphone.
Tertiary education and career goals
Aims to do the best he can with his study and his degree. At this stage, not really considering postgrad study.
Tim has started thinking about his future career, but not that much. There's three years to go before that's going to be a problem!
Information needs from Victoria
New student - getting into the swing of timetables, study, assignments. Getting around the campus. Orientation, social events.
Making friends - joining groups and developing new interests.