Beka | Ōtara

“So, my grandmother, growing up, she would always encourage me to do my best in school, to do my best in every aspect in life, and she is the reason why I am who I am today. I stand up for what I believe in. I am unafraid and unapologetic.

I care about the welfare of other people, and she has made me more into the woman that all of us women aspires to be, and she’s made me a better person. Although she passed away a few years ago, she had a huge impact on me ever since and I’ve still kept my head strong. I’ve still kept on going, because it’s hard living in South Auckland and being brown, and you are told that you can’t do certain things because of where you come from and the colour of your skin, but every day I’d come home to my nana and she’s always say these nice things about me, and say that I can do the things that I put my head to. I can do the things that I believe that I can do.

So, I grew up in the heart of South Auckland, Ōtara. A single house, a single parent home. So, we faced many struggles, both financially and emotionally, but it’s those same struggles that helped me become the strong and resilient person I stand as, today.

I’m in my last year of high school, and I am going to pursue a career in law, and I’m not sure which area in law yet, but I just know that I want to be one of the very few people that stand up for people, and be the voice that is afraid to be heard.

If I could speak to her today, I’d say, thank you. I’d say, there’s no other way that I can repay you, except by being the best that I can be, and pushing myself to pass my marks, pass where I’m told I can be. I just want to thank her for everything, and I don’t know that I’m there yet, but I’m getting there, and when I do get there, hopefully she’ll be proud of me.”