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Evan Iro Maoate Drollet TeitiField Officer working for Mates in Construction
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Qualifications: Certificate in Health Sciences and Bachelor of Health Sciences
Hobbies: I enjoy any kind of physical activity and spending time with my family.
Favorite food: Raw fish with Taro
Hobbies: I enjoy any kind of physical activity and spending time with my family.
Favorite food: Raw fish with Taro
I grew up in Rarotonga where I went to Avarua Primary and then Tereora College. While at school I wanted to be a professional rugby player like every other young boy growing up in the islands. I quickly realized at a young age that I wasn't as good as the others. It also wasn't what my parents wanted me to do. Instead, they wanted me to pursue tertiary education and get a degree. In reflection, pursuing a degree were answered prayers for my parents and it worked out in my favour. Reflecting on these school years, my mother made the biggest impact in my schooling journey. She was the one person that believed I could be great at anything I put my mind to before I even did. 'Education is the key to success' is something she spoke of frequently which is now engraved into my worldview. Her nurturing and supporting personality are what got me through my school years. Immediately after high school, in the islands, I spent 2 years working for my parents in our family business for love. It taught me the concept of servantship, respect and love. These were fundamental values that underpinned my pursuit of tertiary education at the University of Auckland.
My first paid job in New Zealand was a casual pick packer at Rapid Labels in Albany, Auckland. My main responsibility was to pick orders from the warehouse and get it ready to distribute and ship out to customers. I got paid $12.50/hour and was working 50-60 hours a week. I can recall the first payment I received and saw $800.00 in my bank account. It felt like I had just won the lotto.
I now work with construction workers to increase their capability and awareness around mental health and wellness, with a focus on suicide prevention. Increasing a suicide-safer community is at the core of what I do on a daily basis. I enjoy interacting with people and creating a positive impact in their lives. There is no better feeling than bringing to light someone facing hopelessness, with programs that are empowering and help-offering and seeing a sense of hope in their reactions. My dream job aligns with my purpose in life which is to help people realize their potential and go on to live out their dreams and aspirations. In a sense, I am doing that with my current role at Mates in Construction. I bring hope to people and inspire them to be the best version of themselves.
In hindsight, as a Pasifika person, navigating my way through high school, tertiary education and into the workforce was difficult. Growing up as a young village boy, I'm an outlier and should not be here. People like me should not have gone to university and should not be creating positive impacts in people's lives. It took the wise words and faith of a mother in her child that got me to where I am today. I hope to do the same with my story for our Pasifika youth. I am obligated to share my story to our youth in the hopes that it inspires them to pursue their dreams and aspirations even if it seems impossible to do.
If you could give some words of wisdom to your younger self - what would you say?
My first paid job in New Zealand was a casual pick packer at Rapid Labels in Albany, Auckland. My main responsibility was to pick orders from the warehouse and get it ready to distribute and ship out to customers. I got paid $12.50/hour and was working 50-60 hours a week. I can recall the first payment I received and saw $800.00 in my bank account. It felt like I had just won the lotto.
I now work with construction workers to increase their capability and awareness around mental health and wellness, with a focus on suicide prevention. Increasing a suicide-safer community is at the core of what I do on a daily basis. I enjoy interacting with people and creating a positive impact in their lives. There is no better feeling than bringing to light someone facing hopelessness, with programs that are empowering and help-offering and seeing a sense of hope in their reactions. My dream job aligns with my purpose in life which is to help people realize their potential and go on to live out their dreams and aspirations. In a sense, I am doing that with my current role at Mates in Construction. I bring hope to people and inspire them to be the best version of themselves.
In hindsight, as a Pasifika person, navigating my way through high school, tertiary education and into the workforce was difficult. Growing up as a young village boy, I'm an outlier and should not be here. People like me should not have gone to university and should not be creating positive impacts in people's lives. It took the wise words and faith of a mother in her child that got me to where I am today. I hope to do the same with my story for our Pasifika youth. I am obligated to share my story to our youth in the hopes that it inspires them to pursue their dreams and aspirations even if it seems impossible to do.
If you could give some words of wisdom to your younger self - what would you say?
" You are destined to do great things. The life that God has designed for you requires that you believe in yourself and your abilities and work hard. You fulfil these fundamental requirements, and it will put you in good stead to doing great things in the future. Finally, have fun doing it. "
