A journey of strength and aroha – being brave to follow your dreams

Life was good for Rachelle, living in Auckland and working full-time in a job she loved. But after losing both her parents in a short space of time in 2020, she sought a new focus to navigate her grief. Packing up the whānau and moving back ‘home’ to Taranaki, she embarked on a transformative journey.

“When you lose people, you realise how short life really is. I knew I wasn’t happy, so this massive life change led me to my journey of studying. It’s been an amazing shift in the road and this is my why now.”

Nervous yet excited, Rachelle was relieved to find a supportive cohort of students from diverse backgrounds who shared her feelings. Despite studying by distance, she found she never felt isolated.

“The support from tutors and classmates was great. They understood the juggle of home, work and study, making it all feel achievable. A highlight of my first year was the noho marae. It deepened my connections to the other students, enriched my understanding of my life journey and ignited my passion for social work by linking history with future practice.”

Now in her final year, Rachelle admits she wasn’t sure if she could do it, but knew she loved helping people - it’s part of her DNA.

“This is something that I’ve always wanted to do. At first I thought I was too old but I read a profile of this amazing wāhine who’d studied later in life, and she must have been about 70. That’s when I thought I can do this.”

Rachelle has found that her 30 years of employment has become a valuable asset.

“It’s been so exciting to learn again, while also incorporating the wisdom of my years. Social work is not one-size-fits-all, so a diverse workforce is needed to reflect those we support. It’s our lived experiences that guide us beyond theory.”

The slower pace of living back in Taranaki allowed Rachelle to spend more time with her family and commit to studying full-time towards her degree – a dream now realised.

“When I told my mum that I was thinking of doing this, she said it was about time. It’s because of her I’m able to do this and I’m so thankful to her.”

Rachelle has even surprised herself with her grades and how much she’s enjoying it.

“I wanted to immerse myself and I’m so glad I did. I’ve even exceeded my own expectations with my grades. But it’s because I love it. I don’t sidestep around the readings, I indulge in it all!”

Through the programme, Rachelle explored different fields of practice, benefitting from guest lectures and placements.

“I found this introduced me to a broader range of roles I hadn’t considered. I’m passionate about the disability sector, and was fortunate enough to experience placement in the field.”

To those considering studying, Rachelle advises finding something that excites and interests them. For her, a big motivation has been understanding herself and interweaving her core values into her practice.

“Understanding ko wai au (who I am) has been crucial. Unpacking my te ao Māori journey challenged my past beliefs and I’m continuing to decolonise my perspectives. The importance of understanding a person in relation to their whānau and the wider context has shaped my practice. This has been shaped by reclaiming my own whakapapa.”

One of Rachelle’s more unique study settings is the backseat of her car, but not just anywhere. She likes to park where she can get a beachfront view. She says it’s important to sit in the backseat so you don’t have the glare in your eyes, and to make sure the windows are down so you can smell the sea salt.

Rachelle’s already contemplating what’s next and thinks she would like to do a PhD.

“There are so many avenues after you’ve studied, which makes it so exciting. But after my placement as CCS Disability Action, my eyes were opened.”

As graduation approaches, Rachelle reflects on her student life fondly.

“It’s been one hell of a journey. I severely underestimated how much I’d enjoy it. I can’t wait to graduate. It’s not just about me now, it’s my village who will be celebrating with me.”

Rachelle sees the theme for Aotearoa New Zealand Social Workers’ Day, ‘Kia whakatōmuri te haere whakamua – I walk backwards into the future with my eyes fixed on my past’, as a vital component of social work practice.

“We all have context to who we are and whakapapa guiding and supporting us. My purpose is to contribute towards reclaiming space as tangata whenua by being a role model for our mokopuna, normalising academic achievement and practice in social work by Māori for Māori.”

Interested in a career change to social work?

If you’re looking to become a registered social worker but don’t have a bachelor’s degree in social work, Massey’s Master of Applied Social Work is the qualification for you. Discover how you can leverage your undergraduate degree and become a registered social worker within two years by joining our upcoming webinar on Wednesday 16 October 2024.

To learn more and sign up, click here.