Lesona was eager to study healthcare to learn how to care for the vulnerable in her family and community. She discovered NZSE and joined the whānau enrolling in our NZ Certificate Health and Wellbeing (Level 2).
“I wanted to learn how to care for elderly people because of my past experience with the elderly in the islands.”
Lesona’s journey was far from easy. She faced language barriers, multiple lockdowns, and the heart-breaking loss of her grandmother who raised her.
“It was really tough because of, you know, the language. When I lost my grandmother, I was heartbroken you know she brought me up, that was the hardest thing. Then we had three or four lockdowns and I was ready to give up”
Physically and emotionally drained, Lesona asked to withdraw from the course, but our staff encouraged her to keep going.
“One day I went to see Puna from Student Services and withdraw, but one smile can change everything. Puna took me in to see my course coordinator Lesley and they gave me a reason to stay, encouraging me to ‘think about my future'"
From then on Lesona made some good friends and not only worked hard to complete our Level 2 course, but finished NZ Certificate Health and Wellbeing (Level 3) and is currently studying NZ Certificate Health and Wellbeing - Advanced Care and Support (Level 4).
“I slowly met new friends and enjoyed hanging out with other students from different cultural backgrounds. Then after a couple of months I became a one of the top students from Healthcare Level 3. I was so proud of myself."
Throughout her studies, Lesona has also supported other learners, encouraging them to keep working towards their goals and convincing them to finish the course when they too were thinking of withdrawing.
“I remind other students of the same thing Puna and Lesley said to me, ‘think about your future’”
Since then, Lesona has recently been offered a place of study for nursing after she finishes her course which she will begin later this year.
Her advice to all students is,
“You only fail if you quit, when you feel like you're being challenged the most, believe in where you're heading.”
Lesona was eager to study healthcare to learn how to care for the vulnerable in her family and community. She discovered NZSE and joined the whānau enrolling in our NZ Certificate Health and Wellbeing (Level 2).
“I wanted to learn how to care for elderly people because of my past experience with the elderly in the islands.”
Lesona’s journey was far from easy. She faced language barriers, multiple lockdowns, and the heart-breaking loss of her grandmother who raised her.
“It was really tough because of, you know, the language. When I lost my grandmother, I was heartbroken you know she brought me up, that was the hardest thing. Then we had three or four lockdowns and I was ready to give up”
Physically and emotionally drained, Lesona asked to withdraw from the course, but our staff encouraged her to keep going.
“One day I went to see Puna from Student Services and withdraw, but one smile can change everything. Puna took me in to see my course coordinator Lesley and they gave me a reason to stay, encouraging me to ‘think about my future'"
From then on Lesona made some good friends and not only worked hard to complete our Level 2 course, but finished NZ Certificate Health and Wellbeing (Level 3) and is currently studying NZ Certificate Health and Wellbeing - Advanced Care and Support (Level 4).
“I slowly met new friends and enjoyed hanging out with other students from different cultural backgrounds. Then after a couple of months I became a one of the top students from Healthcare Level 3. I was so proud of myself."
Throughout her studies, Lesona has also supported other learners, encouraging them to keep working towards their goals and convincing them to finish the course when they too were thinking of withdrawing.
“I remind other students of the same thing Puna and Lesley said to me, ‘think about your future’”
Since then, Lesona has recently been offered a place of study for nursing after she finishes her course which she will begin later this year.
Her advice to all students is,
“You only fail if you quit, when you feel like you're being challenged the most, believe in where you're heading.”
