L3 Statistics - Full Year

My name is Tracy Hazlewood. When I first left school, I was fully set on heading to Otago University to study Physical Education. However, at the very last moment I made a spontaneous decision to enrol in New Zealand’s first Outdoor Education and Leadership course. That choice changed everything. I spent the next five years working in the outdoors and at a polytechnic, gaining experiences that shaped who I am far more than any original plan could have. Eventually, I felt the pull to shift direction again. I headed to Victoria University and completed a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Calculus and Statistics. I share this journey because many of us think we know exactly where we’re going when we finish school, but life has a way of presenting unexpected opportunities. Being open to those opportunities—and willing to take a risk—can lead to incredibly rewarding paths. I’ve now been teaching Mathematics for over twenty years. Yes, that makes me feel slightly ancient, but it also means I’ve gathered a fair bit of knowledge along the way! Outside the classroom, I’m married and have two sons who both live in the lower South Island. I always assumed they would head off to university, but instead they’ve each followed their own unique paths. They’re trying new things, taking risks, and building a broad set of skills that will serve them well throughout their lives. I’m proud of the choices they’ve made and the confidence they’ve shown in carving out their own futures.