University of Auckland Nursing graduate Elijah Muaiava’s from the villages of Faleula, Faleatiu and Vailu’utai had his plan B turn out to be an ‘A’ choice.

The 20-year-old has just completed his Bachelor of Nursing degree from Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland through the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, as part of the Māori and Pacific Admissions Scheme.

Recent research has shown top-quality healthcare is reliant on a suitable mix of people in the health professions, particularly in the context of Pacific and Māori. As a newbie health professional, Muaiava will join the 3.9 per cent Pacific Nursing workforce when he starts his new role in January next year.

One of six siblings, the Manukau young man left De La Salle College was unsure what his next steps would be; he contemplated medical school.

“I always knew I wanted to be in healthcare… initially I wanted to do med, I was thinking that’s where the big bucks are, I always liked science and biology in high school and I genuinely like helping people, as corny as that sounds,” he said of the importance of delivering tautua (being of service) to both family and the community around him.

But then he got his Year 12 NCEA results: “I was like, oh! Maybe I’m not cut out for that, just yet.”

However, a long-held desire from his grandparents Maria Sylvia Ah-Cheung and John Muaiava to see their grandchildren pursue tertiary education, was all the encouragement he needed to choose Nursing.

“Whenever I’m sick, he will look after me, taking my temperature and things like that. We are so proud of him,” said his grandmother who was also a nurse.

The first in his family to become a university graduate, Muaiava said there were many times over the last three years that made him question whether he would ever complete his studies.

‘My grandparents wanted at least one of their grandchildren to go university, what started out as their journey became my own,’ he said recalling the emotional rollercoaster of being a university student.

Particularly as the lockdown periods during the early days of the pandemic, prevented student nurses undertaking placement in hospitals.

“It was tough starting out, we couldn’t go into the hospitals, it was just theory. Once I was in placement [hospital] I genuinely loved the real-world learning and I learned to love nursing.”

He recalls the moment where he could finally sense that the career he had chosen would eventuate. “There was one challenging day, and I remember just taking a moment, thinking how tough the day was and then this patient told me, ‘you’re going to make a great nurse’ and I thought well alright then!”

Buoyed by his faith, Muaiava says the experience of living on campus for the first year felt very foreign, despite being only 20kms from his Manukau home.  The normally outgoing graduate initially felt isolated, being one of the very few Pacific people in a predominantly Pakeha environment.

“I think I stayed in my room for four hours straight that first night, before I rang my aunty,” recalling the journey of having to step outside his comfort zone and navigate a new path.

“I guess I just learned how to talk to other people, who aren’t like me.”

With plans to undertake postgraduate studies Muaiava says it still hasn’t sunk in yet that he has fulfilled both his own and his grandparents long-held wishes.