A journey across the world fuelled by a love for animals

Diploma in Science and Technology (2022), Bachelor of Animal Science (2026)

Seeing her mother watching proudly from the audience was the moment that meant the most to Itisha Bhadauria as she crossed the graduation stage.

Now graduating with a degree in Animal Science majoring in Genetics and Breeding, Itisha says the moment was made even more meaningful by sharing it with the people who supported her journey from the very beginning.

“My parents and brother sacrificed a lot to let me be here. They put in so much effort, time and emotional support into helping me through my degree, so it was really special that they got to share this moment with me,” she says.

“My partner was another major pillar of support. He was there for me through all the late-night assignments and daily pressures of university. I’m blessed to have so many people in my corner.”

Originally from India, Itisha chose Massey University because of its strong global reputation in veterinary and animal sciences.

“I knew Massey had world-class leading education, especially in veterinary science and animal science. And I knew New Zealand was a beautiful country. I wanted to come and see what it was all about while advancing my education as well,” she says.

Her passion for animals began at a very young age and played a major role in shaping her career aspirations.

“I’ve always had an immense love for animals since I was about five years old,” she says. “I always knew I wanted to build my career around helping animals, whether it be a cat or a cow. Just the thought that I might someday be making their lives better gets me out of bed in the morning.”

Not surprisingly, cats remain her favourite animal. “My favourite animal is a cat. I love cats,” she laughs.

Like many international students, Itisha says one of the biggest challenges during her studies was balancing university life with personal responsibilities while still making time to enjoy life outside study.

“Unexpected things can happen at the same time as university. You have to make sure you get all your work done while also having balance, enjoying yourself, exploring the country and doing your assignments. That was probably the most challenging part.”

Alongside the academic journey, Itisha says the friendships and connections she built at Massey became some of the most rewarding parts of university life.

“My favourite memory is meeting new people from all different walks of life through university. Massey has truly introduced me to people who will be lifelong friends.”

Although graduation marks a major milestone, Itisha is already looking ahead to the future. She is currently continuing her studies through a master’s programme and hopes to build a career in animal and cattle science research.

“Next is working on my thesis and hopefully building a career as a dairy scientist. I truly want to make a difference for the better in the dairy industry.”