Growing up in a house full of nurses Heidi also thought she would train to be a nurse but towards the end of Year 13 she started to look at other options.

“I’ve always wanted to help people and I found that being a beauty therapist can help people in a different way, such as working with clients who have skin disorders like eczema and acne.”

Heidi had been living in Queenstown but chose to study in Dunedin. 

“I wanted to come to Dunedin to experience being in a student town and I wanted to study the Diploma because I heard from other students that it was a more in-depth programme."

For Heidi, the programme was everything she could have wanted and more.

The teachers were amazing, they had so much knowledge, and whenever you asked a question they’d make you think about it before they gave you the answer which was a fantastic learning technique. I also loved working in a team and that I was working with real clients.

Heidi is now working as a beauty therapist, treating clients with skin disorders who she sees on a regular basis.

“I really like making a difference to their lives and seeing them walk out with a smile on their face.” 

(This programme used to be delivered by Aoraki Polytechnic but moved across to Otago Polytechnic in 2015).