There are many reasons why Mangere’s Rayana Agalava (pictured) dreams of becoming an accountant, but top of mind is helping to close generational financial inequalities in her aiga.
Born in Samoa, the now 17-year-old was just a baby when her family moved to South Auckland, where they still reside.
Currently in Year 12 at McAuley High School, Rayana’s love of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) earned her a Ministry for Pacific Peoples (MPP) Toloa Secondary School Scholarship.
It is also a realisation of her parent’s vision for her, while nudging her closer to achieving her own dreams, she says.
“The window of educational opportunities in New Zealand was what my family once saw and decided to take a leap of faith by moving here,” Rayana says.
“When all else fails to prevail, education is what my family and I feel we can fall back on and use as a tool in this world.
“The Toloa Scholarship has allowed me to see where my education can take me.”
Raised in a Samoan congregational church, Rayana has always had a love for singing, dancing, acting and public speaking, as well as a deep passion for her Samoan culture and people.
Her eyes sparkle however, when Rayana speaks about numbers and challenging problem solving.
Rayana’s favourite subjects in school are maths, accounting and calculus, and she can see herself working in finance or business one day, supporting those who struggle to manage their finances.
“I come from a low-income family, with only my father providing for my siblings and I, as my mum is currently studying to become a teacher.
“Aside from having a passion for STEAM, specifically mathematics and the finance side of things, I believe it is important for me to gain knowledge and skills around these subjects as it could break my family’s generational wealth inequalities, and I will be able to help my parents learn to manage their finances the right way.”
The Toloa Scholarship has not only provided financial support for Rayana to pursue her aspirations of studying accounting, but it has reduced the financial pressure and burden on her parents.
“Being one of three children from a one-income family, the scholarship has given me greater access to great educational opportunities that can ensure I take the right steps closer to my goals and dreams for the future,” she adds.
With one more year of secondary school left, Rayana plans to continue working towards her goal of attending the University of Auckland to begin a bachelor’s degree in commerce, majoring in accounting.
She also hopes to inspire more people from similar backgrounds to enter the field of STEAM education and help to open doors for future generations.
“I am a product of brown excellence and want to work in the STEAM field to represent exactly that and more.
“I want to be the face of change in my community, and this scholarship provides a platform for me and other Pacific students studying STEAM subjects, who want to take their passions further beyond the classroom.”
Toloa Secondary School Scholarships
The Toloa Secondary School Scholarships aim to inspire and support Pacific students in their engagement with STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and maths).
These scholarships support Pacific students in Years 9 through 13 to pursue studies in STEAM, while seeking to inspire and support Pacific student’s early stages of STEAM academic engagement.
Visit the MPP website for more information about the Toloa Fund.