France – American Samoan
“My name is France. I am originally from the island of American Samoa and I came here in 2005.
I said to myself strive for the best. Seek the best, and, focus. Focus on where I am heading, like the career path that I wanted. So what I would say to my 11 year old self is don’t get in trouble, don’t get involved with that, and do good in school.
I came to New Zealand in 2005 and then I got in trouble, family and personal, and then I got sent back to Samoa and, lived there for a couple of years and then came back.
It was just like cops and then getting involved with the law, but then, yeah I sorted myself out. I feel welcome and safe; just the people around me that I have to choose wisely and the choices that I make.
When I was in high school I didn’t really feel comfortable in school so I mostly skipped classes. People were just talking behind my back, but I didn’t really mind. So I just minded my own business. (They were) calling me names, like black beard, and dumb, just what islanders usually get called; mostly dumb, over stayer, yeah, just mean.
I was a quiet kid so I just minded my own business and didn’t really take their word for it, for anything. Auckland has a lot of cultures actually. I reckon they celebrate a lot of cultures – like the Lantern Festival and Polyfest and stuff.
I would like to make it into the Army, as a rifleman – that’s my goal for now. I wanna serve this country and make a difference for my family. Achieving the Army will be a good goal it will change me in different ways, make my family proud. I guess I just don’t wanna be another normal islander working in a factory and stuff. I want a high paid job and take care of my family, and that’s basically why I want to make it into the military.”
