Meet Soakai
“Koe pale ‘oe ngaue lelei, koe nague ‘oku toe lahi ange.” When you do a great job, the reward is a job that's even bigger.
Soakai didn’t grow up identifying with his Tongan culture. He didn’t know much of the language and saw himself simply as a “kiwi”. Now he is a teacher of Lea Fakatonga and Music at Aorere College.
“I had some sort of epiphany in 2018 when me and one of my mates went to a kava club. Being in that setting – sitting on the floor on the same level as elders, pastors, chiefs and kids, all of these different ranks all sitting at one level, that was a life-changing moment for me.”
He didn’t know it then, but connecting with his Tongan culture through kava would open doors for him down the line. While finishing his studies towards his Bachelor of Music, Soakai interviewed to be part of the Ako Mātātupu Teach First programme. They offered him a chance to teach Tongan Language while advancing his own proficiency.
“It's all just led to this destiny-filled journey for me where I thought I knew what I was doing, but I ended up going another way,” he says.
His time in kava club has also informed his teaching and learning practise. He says it creates a space where young people can bring all of themselves to the lesson, laugh at their own mistakes, and be kind to each other.
“Everyone understands the boundaries, the vā, the space between us. It’s about respecting that space, but also feeling free to be yourself.”
Late in his own high-school years, Soakai was diagnosed with keratoconus. Having never had a disability before, he didn’t know what support was available to him. He says this contributed to a period of depression during his Bachelor studies.
“I just felt like I was so dependent. Everyone else was so independent by that time and I compared it to myself. I thought, I need so much help and I don't like that feeling.”
He credits part of his mental-health recovery to his Disability Case Manager from Ratonga Hauātanga Tauira, Student Disability Services, who helped him access limited full-time study, and Auckland Transport support.
Originally, I was going to say no, being the prideful person that I am, but my Disability Case Manager was amazing. She fought for me left and right.
As a graduate, Soakai wants to encourage others to seek out the support available to them to help them get through tough times.
“Please don't be afraid to seek help from counsellors or therapy, whatever that may be, after-school tutorials, or your friendship groups. Take a break and recharge the battery so that you can hit the next semester even harder.”
If you do have a disability, don't let pride get in the way of accessing support.
Get in touch with Ratonga Hauātanga Tauira, Student Disability Services.