Molly Laurence

Meet Molly, studying a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, minoring in Environmental Humanities

I love my courses. Everything in my lectures feels so interesting, relevant, and like a gift to receive. Not much can make a 9 am lecture better, but loving what you study definitely helps.

Choosing Victoria University

I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek of Victoria University through the Schools Poetry Award in 2023, and I was indoctrinated pretty rapidly. As a funky-earring-wearing, tree-hugging, creativity-loving human, there was never really a choice to be made after that. People here are so friendly and so much more conscious of different issues, and so often working to address them. Plus, Victoria has a great law program.

Out of a world of options, I would pick Victoria every time. It might be the same for you. The interactivity and ability for extension. The thought and care that go into the course is just phenomenal. So are the community and friendships that build up around it.

Studying Environmental Humanities

How is a nation made, and how does it stay a democracy? Why do we talk with our friends differently from how we talk to our grandparents? Why is our world the way it is, and can it change? Why does a word exist for the impulse to eat dirt? (you can go to Environmental Humanities to find the answer to the last one). I was and still am a 'why' child. People, our systems, and our world are some of the biggest sources of joy and mystery to me.

Studying a Bachelor of Laws and a BA in Sociology, minoring in Environmental Humanities, feels like such an exciting way to explore, and ultimately contribute to helping, the world. I love my degree because Laws provides a rich and solid ground of learning to draw from. There's such a culture and precedent there that governs our world. Sociology rises from this to question the established norms and assumptions of our society and challenge how we can make it better. And Environmental Humanities, for me, asks what we do it all for. If Law is the roots and Sociology the trunk, Environmental Humanities is the flowering canopy. We all live on this earth, and will continue living under it, even as planetary bounds are exceeded and climate crises occur. It branches over everything. I'm a better person for participating in it.

In Environmental Humanities, one of the first ever lectures we had took place on the beach, holding seaweed and peering into rock-pools. We were being guest-lectured by Love Rimurimu, a group looking at seaweed regeneration and ocean conservation.

Getting involved with university life

Early on, I signed up to the disability service, the international leadership, debating society, and feminist law. There are a lot of really cool things to get involved with—culture shock if you're from a small rural town like me.

Choosing Wellington

Wellington is one of the only places in the world where the native bird population is on the increase. A city actively engaging with issues and leading the world to address them? Heck yeah, sign me up. People here are friendly, the vibe is amazing, and the engagement of people with the world is what makes me love studying and living here.