Pushing self-limitations through the Beyond AUT Award
It was a challenge and a way to test himself. That is how Sione Finau approached signing up for the Beyond AUT Award after a recommendation by his Ta'okete, Dr Stevens II.
“I decided it would be good to push outside my comfort zone to see where my limitations lie beyond study and work,” says Sione, who has recently completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Mental Health & Addictions, while working full-time for a social housing and mental health community group and doing the Beyond AUT Award.
The award opened Sione’s eyes to the importance of connection, the value of seeing potential in others as a leader and the purpose of reflection.
Connection
Sione says through the Beyond AUT Award he’s become more confident about interacting with others, realising that the best way to approach other people is to simply get them to talk about themselves – and then listen.
“When people relax and start talking, they will really share with you, and you start learning more and hopefully you make an impression on them too. But there needs to be purpose. I’ve had to learn to chat with purpose.”
Having a good introduction is an essential part of connecting with others, says Sione, and a good introduction needs to have a personal flavour.
“Learning that was eye-opening, but it made sense. Employers chat to so many people, especially at events where they keep hearing the same thing, so I really had to stop and think about how to give my introduction and conversation a personal flavour.”
Beyond AUT Award participants must attend specific networking events. Despite his shyness, Sione attended many more events than required, driven by his enthusiasm to chat with others and find out more about their life.
“Hearing about other people’s experiences made me see how much I was limiting myself. For example, at one event an AUT graduate and I got talking about technology and where it is going in the mental health space. One of my undergraduate majors was in business information systems, and this chat gave me ideas about combining this with my mental health and addiction studies, something I hadn’t thought about before.”
Seeing potential
Seeing potential in others is another really important lesson that Sione gained from doing the award, but one he only recognised when reflecting on his experiences. Most of his volunteering and leadership was done through Standing.Tall.org, an organisation that he discovered by contacting founder Dr Stevens II on LinkedIn after seeing his PhD thesis was on Māori and Pacific men’s health.
“Dr Stevens II gave me a chance by meeting me for a coffee after I messaged him on LinkedIn. I turned up in socks and Crocs, I was immature and didn’t really think about how I was presenting myself. But he saw past that and saw my potential after engaging me in conversation.”
That conversation led to many voluntary hours of work with Standing.Tall.org, including Sione taking on the challenge of talking on live radio about the organisation and Māori and Pacific males and sexual violence.
“I am shy and timid, but I was motivated by the importance of advocating for Māori and Pacific males affected by sexual violence by amplifying their voices in spaces where they are often unseen and unheard. I also helped launch StandingTallNZ.org’s podcast. That felt powerful because it’s a lifeline of hope and solidarity," says Sione.
Reflection
The last section of the Beyond AUT Award requires students to reflect on three major areas of change that informed or challenged them during the award. Having to then look back on all the activities and events undertaken by the award and reflect on this was a final big step for Sione, but one he really appreciated.
“Being reflective was a big change for me and by far the hardest because I wasn’t reflecting much initially when I went to events. However, through the final interview coaching, I started to reflect and see how much I had gained, although I was quite inarticulate about it to start with.”
It may look like a lot of work, says Sione, but if you just dive into it and plan a bit, it is doable, particularly if you volunteer and do leadership hours in areas that really interest you.
“I’d really recommend it to Māori and Pacific students. Not only is it recognised by employers, which helps you stand out, but it shows you did your very best for yourself while at AUT.”
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