Scholarship helps uni student

A university student has ditched her usual summer holiday plans to spend them at New Zealand’s largest airport.

Olivia Vu, 18, has been working as a passenger experience assistant at Auckland Airport since November as part of the airport’s graduate scholarship programme.

The Manurewa resident is one of eight young people on the programme, which is for Year 13 South Auckland students heading into full-time tertiary study.

Students receive three months’ full-time employment, a laptop, and a grant of $2000 towards their first year of tertiary fees.

It has ‘‘surpassed her expectations’’ and she says it’s been a great learning experience.

‘‘It’s really different to what I imagined … every day is different and people are coming in with different challenges,’’ Vu says.

The scholarship has also provided her a mentor in Solange Francois, who’s the airport’s marketing manager.

Vu and Francois catch up a few times a week to discuss work, university, and life, with both becoming friends from it.

Francois says it’s great to see the students challenged and put out of their comfort zones which they have to adapt to quickly.

‘‘It’s been really good, I’ve really enjoyed meeting Olivia … she reminds me of what I was like when I was at that stage,’’ Francois says.