Rulon Brown
Postgraduate Certificate in Sport, Exercise and Health student
Bachelor of Sport and Recreation
Deciding to study sport and recreation was easy, says Rulon Brown who came to AUT to complete a Bachelor of Sport and Recreation.
“I wanted to study sport and recreation because I have a love for sport and am passionate about serving and working with people. I was born and raised in South Auckland, and have a strong desire to give back to my people and my community. I found that the Bachelor of Sport and Recreation offered an opportunity to be on a pathway that would enable me to follow all of these passions.”
It's a decision he certainly hasn’t regretted and after completing his bachelor’s degree, he decided to continue into postgraduate study to further his understanding of sport leadership and management.
“Choosing to continue into postgraduate study was an opportunity to develop and learn more to open up more opportunities to serve my people and community. I’m working full-time as a high school teacher while I complete my postgraduate degree, and in the future I’d like to keep teaching and look for more ways to give back and serve the community. One important quote from one of my mentors was ‘You gotta play the game and beat the game to change the game’. I’m playing and learning to hopefully be better equipped to serve.”
Making connections
The people he met have been the highlight of his time at AUT, says Rulon who is Samoan from the villages of Samatau, Malie, Tanugamanono and Pava’ia’i.
“The connections and networks I’ve been lucky enough to build in my time here are what I’ve enjoyed the most. People often say, ‘It’s not what you know but who you know’ and I’ve found that being able to connect with different people has helped my development as a person.”
He is grateful for the many different AUT staff who have supported him throughout his studies.
“For me, the biggest support came from the Office of Pacific Advancement and the Oceanian Leadership Network. The people I was blessed enough to cross paths with through this village have taught me a lot and played a massive part in my journey here. The sport and recreation team has also been a huge support throughout the journey. My lecturers Kelly McCallum, Professor Lesley Ferkins and Stephen Gee have played a big part in my journey, as did the sport and recreation student support team and the AUT Student Hub team at the South Campus.”
Advice for other students
Rulon, who completed his Bachelor of Sport and Recreation in 2024, has some great advice for other students.
“My advice would be to find what you’re passionate about and then find ways to turn this into a living. Build good habits along the way and never stop learning. Keep pushing, keep learning, keep faith and keep going. Always remember why you’re doing it.”
He wouldn’t hesitate to recommend studying at AUT.
“I’d definitely recommend AUT, especially if you value community and culture. The university is big on inclusivity, with solid support for all students. Plus, AUT’s hands-on approach to learning helps you connect with real communities while gaining experience. It’s a great place if you want to grow, give back and be part of something bigger.”
