What gives you hope?

Savon | Whāingaroa

Savon is going back to study so that she can give her daughter the best life.

“It’s a really great opportunity that I’ve got to go back and study and be learning and to be contributing to my whānau – me, my partner and my daughter.

I want to give her the best life that I can give her. And if that means I have to up-skill myself and go and learn, then that is a huge motivator. And that’s what gets me through.

I’m excited, I’m nervous. It’s going to be an interesting next four years. But I’m really stoked to be getting back learning again, getting my brain activated.

My mum actually went and did Te Tohu Paetahi last year which was definitely a big motivator for me to be like, “Oh okay if my mum can go back to uni, after all these years and do something that’s out of her comfort zone, then I can definitely do it.”

It’s not that scary but definitely a little bit stressed about spreading myself so thin or trying not to spread myself so thin between all the life things – my daughter, my partner, the household, being able to commit to my studies, working. But I think I just have to trust in the village that I’ve made around me. That everyone can pull their weight to help me do this.

My mum dropped off my daughter at daycare today so all those little things will start coming into play. I think I just have to let some of it go. That is the best way to put it and trust in everyone that, they’ve got my back.

The opportunity to give back to other people in our community and whether that’s here in Whāingaroa or going back to Taumarunui or going over to Sāmoa doing work over there I don’t think there’s anything greater than doing things for people and helping them.”