Polytech graduate rewarded for resilience

Jenna Pope and son Cooper Robson (22 months)  have cause for celebration after she graduated from...
Jenna Pope and son Cooper Robson (22 months) have cause for celebration after she graduated from the Otago Polytechnic yesterday. Photo by Christine O'Connor.
Having overcome the daunting challenges of a house fire, motherhood and recent back surgery, Jenna Pope was ''thrilled'' to be graduating from Otago Polytechnic yesterday.

Her studies have transformed her life and yesterday she also won a significant award from the polytechnic's Institute of Sport and Adventure.

This reflected her high personal achievements, and overcoming obstacles through hard work and resilience.

Ms Pope gained a bachelor of applied science degree, focusing on aspects of health, and was among a record 555 students who graduated in person from the polytechnic in a 3pm service at the Dunedin Town Hall.

''You've got to fight for whatever you want,'' she said.

She had been heavily pregnant when she began her studies early last year and the Dunedin house fire in May 2013 had occurred not long after her son, Cooper Robson, was born.

Mother and son escaped the fire, but it had been ''very, very scary''.

''The whole house was full of smoke. It was in the room where my son was sleeping,'' she said.

Polytechnic officials said Jenna had faced a ''tough journey'', having left school early and ''grappled with years of obstacles'', including the fire, and ''serious back surgery''.

After completing a recognition of ''prior learning'' process via the polytechnic's Capable NZ body, she had successfully completed a three-year degree in just two years, officials said.

With a passion for women's health, she had begun developing a programme for women on probation, during work placement hours in her studies.

The programme teaches about ''holistic health and wellness'', and, as an educator, she aimed to''empower'' women on probation to help them understand they had ''a powerful position in their family'' and could generate ''positive change'' for their children, she said.

After positive feedback, she would deliver this programme next year, and also hoped to expand those services to other community organisations, polytechnic officials said.

john.gibb@odt.co.nz

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