Nursing student encourages others to turn stumbling blocks into stones to progress

Hailing from the remote island of Eua in Tonga, Bachelor of Nursing student Susana Vaioema Mahe is now in her third and final year of study on the Manawatū Campus.

Susana, the lucky recipient of a New Zealand Trade and Affairs Scholarship, embarked on her studies in 2020 to fulfil her lifelong dream of becoming a nurse. Prior to studying at Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University, Susana studied nursing locally in Tonga. She then began working at Vaiola Hospital, where she met her husband, who is also a nurse, in the operating theatre. Susana travelled to Aotearoa New Zealand alone to begin her studies, but returned home late in 2020 to get married.

“Living away from my husband has definitely strengthened our bond. He’s so supportive of me and this opportunity and can see how much I’m thriving and growing,” Susana says.

“Marriage requires patience, trust, compromise, and communication that exudes a level of commitment and love.”

From a large and extremely close-knit family, Susana is one of eight siblings. She was actively encouraged by her Mum, who works for the Tongan Red Cross Society, to pursue a nursing qualification so she could help look after the family.

Susana recalls an impressionable memory from her childhood that helped shape her future.

“One day when I was young, my father came back from his plantation with an injury from his bush knife. He is the type that is always reluctant to seek medical help. From that day on, my mother encouraged us kids to try and study hard to pursue a career in health services so we could one day help our dad at home.

“Nursing has been a part of me and will always be a part of me. It has helped to shape my life to be who I am and who I want to be in the future.”

Being in a foreign country a long way from home didn’t come without it’s challenges for Susana to overcome. Shortly after she arrived in New Zealand the COVID-19 pandemic took hold and the country was placed into a national lockdown. Not knowing many people and being thousands of kilometres away from her ‘safe place’ tempted Susana to give up.

“I arrived in New Zealand just before the lockdown. This unexpected turn of events, challenges and stranding in a foreign country was tough for me. I almost gave up.

“It was my faith in God, family and culture that kept me going.”

When asked what she is most proud of, Susan explains it’s being a proud Tongan woman that has had an opportunity to study at an outstanding university. She laughs that at 31-years-old she is like a mother hen to her classmates, but that didn’t stop her wanting to better herself and formalise her studies.

Despite the challenges, Susana is loving her time at Massey and is embracing all the opportunities.

“I love the simulation lab. The facilities here at Massey are amazing. Especially the mannequins we learn to do vitals on, which are lifelike - they breathe and sit up. It took us a bit of getting used to.”

When asked what Susana’s advice would be to any student navigating their way through study she says, “Make every stumbling block a stepping stone to progress.”

With the end of her study nearing, Susana is looking forward to going home to be with her family and serve her community.

“I cannot wait to walk that stage at graduation and see my Dad there supporting me.”

Interested in Nursing?

If you are considering a career in nursing, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University hosts interactive workshops on the Auckland, Wellington and Manawatū campuses each year.

The next workshop is on Thursday 6 July 2023. Held in our nursing simulation labs, it is the perfect opportunity to talk to current students and staff and learn about pre-registration pathways into nursing at Massey. 

Find out more about the workshop and register here.