Mel | Hamilton, Waikato

“That’s a really good question. I guess I’ll say my parents. They’re a huge influence on me. They’re really good people. They always motivate me to do my best.

I’m usually a shy girl. I used to be really shy, and then I had opportunities thrown at me, but I never took them on board, and my parents always told me to opportunity never comes twice, so if you see one, grab it, go for it, and see where it goes. So, that’s what I’ve been doing, to be honest.

I’d tell my parents, thank you for everything you’ve done for me. Honestly, you are the best human beings on Earth. I don’t know where I would be without you, and also, thank you for just motivating me, supporting me in everything I do, even though I make the most stupidest decisions, and choices, you will still be there telling me, not judging me or anything. You just get behind me and keep pushing me through life, thank you.

I’m studying my diploma in business. It’s my first semester. Started three weeks ago, and I wasn’t really a business-type girl. Never liked business or anything, but  I just want to earn money and rule the world, to be honest. Life is hard, but just take the risk and do your best. No-one’s right. Just do you, and just keep striving.

I’m Tongan, but I was born and raised in Hamilton, and I went to all the schools in Hamilton, too. So, I don’t really jump around as much. I moved down to Wellington for a few months, worked there, and then I moved back up, because my dad was getting sick. All is well, though.

Tongan is part of me, but I don’t really show it as much. I’ve just grown up in New Zealand, and just identify myself as a Kiwi, but the food in Tonga is nice. Really good. Beautiful place. Friendly people. But I wouldn’t want to go back there, though. That’s the thing. I don’t feel like I’m just so used to staying in a foreign country. I don’t want to go back home.

When I first started doing my Tongan tradition dancing, they sat me down and told me how important it is to us Tongans’ for us to dance because we have a traditional dance that all must do.”