Lupe | New Lynn, Auckland

“I’m just really grateful for Unitec and my lecturers, in particular because in high school, I was the bad kid and I was the kid whose desk was always outside the classroom or in the dean’s corridor, and it just takes a toll on you.

It only takes a few people to tell you you’re dumb, to actually believe it, and that’s what I was thinking about last night. It wasn’t until I came to Unitec where I actually felt like my potential was there, and that people actually believed in me, to do better for myself. I’m just really grateful, because it got me out of that cycle. I got mates who are in and out of prison on drugs and that, and I just think, man it’s so easy to go down that life and it really takes special people to help you get out of that. So, that’s what I’m grateful for. My lecturers, and everyone at Unitec who supports me.

I was born here in New Zealand. Raised by my grandparents and that’s what I’m thankful for. When I lost both my grandparents, it was kind of tough on me, especially because I lost that support and the love that they gave me for all my life. There were a lot of times where I felt alone and even though I had all this family around me I just still felt alone. But with education I always loved learning. I have a passion for learning, and it was just tough in high school. I just felt worthless and dumb, and that everyone else was smarter than me, and that I was missing out on a lot. But then I slowly realised, actually it was out of frustration that I just wanted to find a place where I was appreciated and I wasn’t just seen for my skin. Because the discourses and stereotypes around Pacific Islanders is real. But here at Unitec, you’re valued for your culture and all of that and I just really found my place and found my people here.

So, I’m studying social work, and my passion is to go back into schools and help out the kids who were in my position, and help them see their own potential and help them believe in themselves. The end goal is to get into policy, because you can only do so much in the front line. You need people sitting at the table talking about the policies and the laws that restrict us. So, that’s my goal. I just want to do better for my people.”