The Phee family are no strangers to the University of Waikato. Wei Cheng was the 20th member of the family and part of the second generation to leave Malaysia to study at Waikato, and there is more to come.
Having so many family members based in Hamilton helped Wei Cheng make the move to Hamilton to study as a young boy.
“Because there are so many family members in Hamilton, it made it easier for me to leave my parents and join my wider family in the Waikato. It’s a sacrifice many family members have made to have a western education. Having family here allowed me to stay true to myself which is important for anyone who comes from overseas,” says Wei Chang.
His wider family are all Waikato Management School alumni, so it was unusual when Wei Cheng broke tradition and chose science. “In high school, I signed up for accounting and economics because that’s what my family did, but I had a curiosity about ‘what I didn’t know’. I had a chance to move into science and I knew I wanted to pursue a career in it."
While studying (2012 – 2014), he was part of numerous committees and was elected as the student representative on the University Council. He worked tirelessly to aid in governance and the student experience.
His campaigning for election was driven by a desire to give back and represent people. “When I was campaigning, no one knew who I was and I was told I was ‘brave’ to run against the current representative. I visited lecture halls and listened to what people wanted and told the students, ‘I can listen to your needs and execute them’ and that was how I was elected.”
