So she signed up to Ignite Consultants Otago, the student-led voluntary not-for-profit organisation which offers free consulting services by students, to not-for-profit organisations.
This semester, she has been in one of five teams of six — her team is working with The Crooked Spoke, a volunteer DIY bicycle workshop in the city.
Last night, Ignite held its semester 1 presentation evening at the Otago Business School, providing an opportunity for people to meet the students involved and for them to highlight the projects they had been working on.
Willow Spencer echoed Ms Fletcher’s comments, saying students tended to get involved with student life but not necessarily the wider community.
"Quite often, we don’t leave North Dunedin," she said.
Ignite was started 15 years ago, after Polish exchange student Agnieszka Nazaruk also recognised a disconnect between students in the city and what was a very large not-for-profit charitable sector.
Ignite’s current chief executive Caleb Oakley said he had been in touch with Ms Nazaruk recently and she was delighted to hear the organisation was still going strong.
This season, five teams of six worked with five organisations — The Crooked Spoke, Rotary, Otago Weightlifting, Dunedin Public Libraries Home Service and Sweet Louise. An executive team of 13 did the behind-the-scenes organising and each team of volunteers was assigned a member of the executive team as project manager.
About 80 students applied for the 30 available spots that semester and it was reassuring to see so much interest, Mr Oakley said.
There was always a need for more students to get involved and it was hoped to have an extra team next semester.
Ms Spencer, who was matched with the library home service, said it was very easy to become enthusiastic when their team was met with such enthusiasm.
She also saw the initiative as a chance to give back to the community.
Kieran Sturland, who was involved with Rotary’s Central Dunedin Club, said his team was charged with helping make the club more accessible and appealing to young professionals.
Working closely alongside the club’s very innovative president, April Eden, it had been very rewarding, particularly seeing their suggestions taken on board.
It had also been an opportunity to develop his interpersonal skills and put his "mind to work in a completely different way".
For Grace Prior, studying for a law degree lacked practical application, so she had relished the opportunity through her involvement with Otago Weightlifting to get some real-life experience.
Recommendations from the students were presented to the association this week and were met very receptively.
Kalai Kukanenthiran, who was with Sweet Louise, which supported women with breast cancer, said he had "100%" enjoyed the experience.
Mr Oakley, who is studying history, politics and economics, said it was a great initiative for first-year students to get involved in and provided an opportunity to meet people across various degrees.
It could feel intimidating talking to older students but, as he found through his initial involvement, it helped with confidence.
