Student profile | Canaan Aumua

What are you studying and why have you chosen this field to study in?
I am studying a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery at the University of Auckland and currently in my second year. Medicine is an area that has always been of interest to me since a young age, and my family is also heavily involved in the health sector and have had a significant influence on my career choice. However regardless of my personal interest in medicine and family influence it’s something I really felt a calling towards and dedicated a lot of prayer to when making the decision. In the end I felt that medicine was the best option for me to make the biggest difference not only in the lives of my Pacific brothers and sisters but also in the world.

You are a stand-out student. What's your secret to success?
Everyone has their own personal tips and tricks for success, though I don’t think mine are any secret. Good support networks, including church, family and friends are probably what are to be most credited for my success in studies so far. Knowing that there are people behind you that genuinely love and care about you and are willing to play a part in your life to see you through successfully. That and of course making sure you always have the "Big Guy" upstairs on your side, and allowing Him to take control of the driver's seat and fulfilling your part of his promise. You can use every tip and trick in the book, but at the end of the day it’s His grace that will pull you through.

How does culture impact on your studies?
My Samoan and Fijian culture has very much been an asset in regards to the success i've had in my studies. In particular the values and virtues that are more than abundant in both my cultures, such as generosity, service and respect. Simple values that I believe are protective but less prevalent, particularly in our youth as our culture and identity start to dissipate amongst the many other influences of today. We all know the "lecture" from grandparents/parents, you're either going to be an All Black, a lawyer or a doctor, which usually doesn’t go down well and is easily dismissed. However, it's a reminder about the challenges faced by those before us, our Pacific people came to New Zealand to see a better life for their families. So as abrasive as some "lectures" may be, and as stressful as family pressure can get, I feel it's only right to adhere to our cultural values and respect their efforts to see that their hardships and sacrifices were not made in vain.

How will this degree help you achieve your goals in terms of the pacific community?
Health has always been an area where Pacific people have struggled, and although there is improvement we still have a long way to go. We are all mindful of the need for culturally appropriate health services, and as a Pacific face I am aware that I can serve this cause. There are many young Pacific peoples today that are highly qualified, and I believe this degree will allow me to combine efforts with other Pacific peoples to contribute to the leadership and development of our Pacific communities.

Have you faced many obstacles/challenges relating to studying in your chosen area?
There are challenges in everything you do, and everyone usually faces the same ones every year. As interesting and exciting as medicine is, it is a very demanding course, and extremely time consuming. It very much changes from a career choice into a way of life; it becomes a part of you. It’s always on your conscience, how many hours can I study today? Can I squeeze in an hour at my sister's dance practice? I don’t need that much sleep! There’s a lot of stress, exhaustion, sacrifice, and sometimes it’s easy to very quickly become isolated from many aspects of your "previous" life, i.e. church, friends outside of university, family, and clubs.

How have you overcome these challenges?
Despite these challenges, there is another side to it all and as mentioned everyone experiences them. Seeing students who are in higher year levels are a reminder that "it can be done” and they always have great advice to pass on to those who are up and coming. One of the best things that helps get through such challenges is the friends you have at university. You go through every day together, the same struggles, day and night, side by side. Friends very quickly become family away from family, and we all help and support each other. Having people like that in your life also allows it to be fun! As Pacific people we all know we have an excessively loud laugh that cannot be contained, particularly in the presence of Pacific humour. I can definitely testify, there are more laughs than tears!

How have you balanced the work load of university and demands of your personal life? i.e. Church, family
Finding the balance is hard and so far something I can say I haven't mastered yet. So far it’s been more or less prioritising and switching between "lives" and roles within Church, family, and university. It’s definitely something i'm working on, because as mentioned medicine is something that can very quickly consume many aspects of your life. Miraculously I have managed to squeeze in a various range of events, but it does take its toll. You don’t always see your family, make everyone’s birthday, or get to every Sunday service in the front row, but those who love you and genuinely care for you have an understanding of your situation and realise how important it is for you. I have been overly blessed in a way that I am surrounded by people as such, which allows me to do my best!

What would be your advise to first year students starting their Bachelor of medicine?
Give it all your best, in the end there's nothing to lose. It's a big competitive year, you end up learning a lot about yourself, your friends, and family as you go through. Try and remember even in the hardest times that it’s a blessing to be that far, studying towards becoming something that can change the lives of many. Don't be afraid to ask for help, and remember that your Pacific identity is an asset, so use it to your advantage! You hear the phrase "study hard, play harder", however my greatest advice would be "study hard, PRAY HARDER"!

What do you hope to have achieved by 2015?
By 2015 I hope to have graduated with the Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery, and completing my first year as a house surgeon. I also hope to be involved in Pacific health at a population level, and have some involvement in health policy. I truly believe our progression as Pacific peoples needs the input of all government sectors, and I have had my eye on the education sector for a while now. We are a collectivist culture, and therefore it should be a collective effort, and I very much hope I am a part of our people’s progress in the near future.

Page last updated: 12 September 2011