North Dunedin lies in repose, with the absence of most of the student body, who usually fill the flats and halls. Dunedinites and remaining students alike have hopefully enjoyed a peaceful summer. I know I have.
Although, the footprint of the masses can still be seen. One such way is in the discarded furniture lining the streets and the piles of rubbish left as an unwelcome inheritance for landlords and residents alike.
The pinnacle of 2024’s year of academic performance and perseverance came throughout December when the graduation parades marched proudly down George St. It was exciting to watch my friends and flatmates walk in their parades.
There was a palpable sense of pride in the air alongside a colourful tapestry of dresses, suits, academic regalia and cultural expression.
The graduating students are well equipped with both education and enthusiasm.
How many of these competent individuals will take their talents overseas? Many of my graduate friends are off searching for work elsewhere or following their wanderlust.
As I contemplate two more years of study ahead, I can’t help but feel a twinge of longing for a year spent outside the library.
My best friend Abby and her partner Hugh — who once held this pen — are planning to travel, while many people in my cohort are off completing semesters abroad, some settling in at Trinity College.
A romantic setting, immortalised in one of my favourite books, Normal People. Go well Abby, Hugh and all travelling this year.
For me, memories of our flats, board games, quiz nights, talent shows, trips to the beach, 21st birthday parties and mornings, afternoons and evenings in the Dunedin Botanic Gardens linger as I prepare for a quieter year at home.
The year promises great things. Bounties of new papers are being offered, and many lecturers have been recognised for their contributions to academic fields and advanced to the associate professor and professor ranks.
New and returning students will secure their contracts with StudyLink, hoping the payments are enough to cover living costs, rent and course fees.
Making decisions about papers can be hard, especially for the indecisive in front of the cornucopia that is university education.
Although the first day of formal lectures is not until February 24, it would be remiss not to acknowledge those engaging with the university’s Summer School programme.
My first experience with Summer School was last year in a climate law and policy class taught by a visiting professor from New York. The quieter campus, warmer weather, and the opportunity to focus on a single subject have left a positive impression.
This summer, I find myself absorbed in law and religion, appreciating again the unique beat of Summer School, where focused study and the quiet warmth of summer create a familiar, harmonious environment for learning.
Whether or not this time has been the calm before the storm, the streets will soon hum with returning students and wide-eyed first-years moving into their halls of residence. It was an exciting yet nerve-racking time I can now reflect fondly on after spending my first year at Knox College.
As 2025 marks my fourth year studying, this column shall be a space to reflect on the journey and look ahead.
To those of us who call Ōtepoti our home, let us extend a warm haere mai to newcomers: welcome, make this your home, stay safe, and be kind.
Share the vision held by myself and my predecessor: bridge the gap.
Above all, as a student, a new year promises two more semesters of intellectual growth and the opportunity to continue to learn from the university, the esteemed lecturers therein, the city of Dunedin, and the collective experience of being a student alongside my peers.
Kind regards,
Grace
• Dunedin resident Grace Togneri is a fourth-year law student. Her fortnightly column replaces the Scarfie Yarn by Hugh Askerud, who is about to depart to study overseas.
