Fine Na’akakala ‘E Moala Aholelei
Master of Education student
Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and Social Sciences
She wants to play her part in making sure that no child is left behind, says Fine Na’akakala ‘E Moala Aholelei who is currently studying a Master of Education.
“During my undergraduate degree, I was confronted with the inequities within our social systems, especially in relation to how Māori and Pacific youth are disproportionately disadvantaged within our education system. I felt drawn to furthering my education to help restructure the ways in which our education system in Aotearoa New Zealand can ensure no child is left behind. I’m hoping to either take up a career pathway in public policy within the Ministry of Education or become a youth worker in a grassroots organisation working with low socio-economic communities.”
Making a positive impact has been a long-time goal for her.
“Coming from a community where hardships and adversity are often mistaken for normalcy because it’s all we know, I wanted to dive deeper into understanding the mechanics of my own behaviours and the behaviours of those around me. That’s why I completed a Bachelor of Arts before moving into postgraduate study. Studying social sciences enabled me to comprehend the contexts we exist in and explore how our communities can move forward, and international studies nurtured a deeper knowledge of intercultural competence.”
Feeling safe and cared for
As the first person in her extended family to attend university, Fine says she was aware of the barriers she would face in such a foreign environment and decided to join AUT’s UniPrep programme to make the transition easier.
“Unlike other students I had no idea what the university experience entailed, from simple things like how an academic semester is structured to more complicated aspects of university life like scholarship and StudyLink applications. UniPrep acted as a platform that enabled my 18-year-old self to transition into university with knowledge, experience and a support system I wouldn’t have had otherwise.
“At UniPrep, I saw the genuine care for us students – a bunch of Māori and Pacific kids from low decile schools and often low socio-economic backgrounds. The thought of university can be extremely scary, especially if it’s a space that’s completely foreign to you and your family, but AUT and the UniPrep team made me feel safe and like I mattered.”
Her time at AUT has brought her out of her comfort zone, she says.
“In general, I’m quite a reserved person but coming to AUT’s Office of Pacific Advancement has given me, as well as so many other Pacific students, the opportunity to find a village on campus and foster a community. The friends I’ve made at AUT are friends I still share milestones with today. The staff at AUT are people I can reach out to for postgraduate and career advice or support. The connections and networks I’ve fostered at AUT are an aspect of university life I deeply treasure.
“During my final undergraduate year, I also worked as an intern at AUT’s Office of Pacific Advancement for my Work Integrated Learning paper. Through this, I had the opportunity to MC a Māori and Pacific student sports event, scribe and collate notes for Pacific staff consultations and even attend the AUT Pacific Research Symposium. These were experiences I’m eternally grateful for and opportunities that helped me grow not only as a student, but as an individual as well.”
Advice for other students
Fine – who received an AUT Find Your Greatness Scholarship and an AUT Postgraduate Research Scholarship to support her studies – has some great advice for other students.
“Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Many students come into tertiary education with preconceived ideas relating to individualism and an all-for-themselves mentality, however, that could not be further from the truth here at AUT. There are so many support systems available, and people want to see you succeed; you just need to take the first leap of faith in trying to find them.
“As a Pacific Islander, it’s often difficult to reach out for help even when you’re in dire need. For me, this was rooted in the stereotype of Pacific Islanders being ‘dumb’ – a notion I didn’t want to fall victim to or allow others to think of me as. However, after reassurance from my lecturers, tutorial leads, staff at AUT and even my own peers, I realised that it isn’t a bad thing to ask for help. I had to realise that people want you to succeed; you just have to find them and the right services.”
She wouldn’t hesitate to recommend AUT to other students.
“There are countless opportunities at AUT and a number of different platforms you can join to be immersed in the university. You’re almost guaranteed to find your people. AUT isn’t just a university to me; it honestly was a second chance for my 18-year-old self who didn’t know what she wanted to do with her life. I’ve grown so much as a student and a person during my time at AUT, and I can say the same for all my peers I’ve met through AUT.”
