Pacific students in Canterbury recently connected with Pacific professionals from a wide range of industries through the first Pasifika Inspiring the Future events, delivered in partnership with the Tertiary Education Commission and the Ministry of Education.
Held at Hornby High School and Ashburton College, the events brought together around 85 students and 15 Pacific role models working in fields including engineering, healthcare, law, policing, business and digital media.
Through Inspiring the Future's interactive “Guess My Job” format, students heard personal career stories, asked questions and explored pathways they may not have previously considered.
The impact was immediate. Students shared how inspiring it was to hear from Pacific professionals who had achieved success in diverse fields. One student was excited to discover that a Pacific animator had contributed to the Avatar films, while another said hearing from a Pacific nurse strengthened their determination to pursue a career in medicine.
The power of seeing successful people who share similar backgrounds and experiences was not lost on teachers, with one saying, “Our Pasifika students need to see people who look like them succeeding across a range of careers. It helps them believe those opportunities are possible for them too.”
The events were extremely well received, and sparked interest in further collaboration to provide more opportunities for Pacific learners to connect with role models and explore future career possibilities.
Get involved – host an event or become a role model
The success of these events shows the powerful impact role models can have on young people. If you are a Pacific professional, educator, community leader or organisation interested in supporting Pacific learners to explore career opportunities, consider becoming an Inspiring the Future role model or hosting an event in your community. Email the team at inspiringthefuture@tec.govt.nz or find out more:
Want to inspire young people as a volunteer role model? Find out more and sign up.