(Picture caption: Mary Faumuina steps forward confidently at the Dressed In Confidence graduation.)
Mary Faumuina witnessed her mum make many sacrifices so her children could chase their dreams.
With this as her driving force, Mary pushed through barriers to do better in school.
That drive has now paid off for the proud 21-year-old who graduated recently from the Dressed In Confidence course – a New Zealand wellness programme that takes participants on a journey of self-discovery and helps boost confidence through fashion and employment readiness workshops.
Dressed In Confidence partnered with the Ministry for Pacific Peoples’ (MPP) Tupu Aotearoa programme to deliver its workshops, which support young people into employment, study, and training.
Mary and her older brother were born and raised in American Samoa by a single mother who “worked hard to give me and my brother a better future”.
She says her mother worked hard so Mary and her brother would not go through the same struggles she went through.
On a personal level, Mary says the Dressed In Confidence programme has allowed her to focus on her own aspirations, including any potential career pathways.
“It pushed me to do better in school, not just for myself but for my family,” Mary says.
“My own aspirations for the future are a variety of different areas of my life.
“I hope to work in a field that I am passionate about and that allows me to make a positive impact on the world and the people around me.
“I aspire to work in a role that involves innovation, creativity, and socialising more with people I’m surrounded by.
“This will help me use my skills and knowledge to help our Pacific community especially our young Pacific women.
“I believe that we all have a responsibility to make the world a better place, and I aspire to play a role in achieving this goal, whether it is through volunteering, supporting local causes, or advocating for change on a global scale.
“I hope to make a positive difference in the lives of others and contribute to creating a more just and equitable world for our pacific community.”
Mary also thanked the Puatala team for supporting her throughout her time with the programme.
Puatala is also part of the Tupu Aotearoa family.
“Puatala’s support helped me gain wonderful achievements,” Mary says.
“I thought I could never qualify in the Dressed In Confidence programme, but with Puatala’s support I was able to socialise with other young Pacific women who were a part of the programme.
“This allowed me to see their goals and life achievements other than my own which inspired me to be more and to become a better version of myself.
“Dressed In Confidence helped me to learn how to prepare myself mentally and physically for future opportunities in terms of job opportunities as well as maintaining myself to be positive and supportive not just towards myself but others around me.
“I learnt that believing in myself and allowing myself to give new things a go is a great step towards being comfortable outside my comfort zone, as well as a step forward in becoming someone who is confident in my own skin body and mind.
“My advice to all Pacific young people who are scared to take that step forward is that you are destined for great things.
“Believe in yourself and give yourself a chance; you never know how far you can go unless you give yourself a chance.
“Don’t lower your standards for anyone and always remember that if God is with you, who can be against you.”
Visit the MPP website for more information on the Tupu Aotearoa initiative.