Humans Of The Islands - Sulani Helg
Sulani Helg
17 years old
Samoan, high school student.
I’m the eldest of 5 children and I come from a big Samoan family. My last name is Helg and that originated from Germany, so I have German in me but I’m also part Fijian, Tongan and Cook Islander. I do acknowledge those cultures because they make me ‘me’. I wouldn’t be the person I am without my cultural ancestors so it’s important to me that I acknowledge that.
Do you see yourself as a role model to other pacific island youth?
I try to embody my philosophy to respect others. I want to create a platform with everything that I accomplish to inspire other young people to follow their dreams and to not give up or let any obstacles get in their way, to endure and persevere. I try to be a role model for the youth.
Who’s been the most influential person in your life and why?
I’d say my parents and my grandparents. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be here today. They’ve taught me everything I know and I’ve learnt so much from the love and the care and everything that I receive from them. My family are very supportive and they just encourage to me follow my dreams and to do the best I can. I’m not much of a competitive person where I feel like I have to compete with everything and everyone. I just try to be better than the person I was yesterday and I sort of try and embody that philosophy within my family as well.
As a teenager, what’s been the hardest personal challenge you’ve had to overcome?
Level 2 NCEA (laughs). There’s been a lot. But I guess, other people’s perceptions of me – that was my mindset before, until I realize that no, this is my life and people will try to put you down no matter what and I’ve just got to not pay attention to what they say. I guess it’s just society’s perception of me which can restrict me from doing certain things.
What do you dream of doing with your life?
My biggest aspiration is to get into the United Nations. I want to begin with finding a suitable role within the New Zealand government and working around people and studying public policy and political science at Victoria University in Wellington. My mission in life is to enrich the lives of others. I did a humanitarian aid trip with my school and we went to countries in South East Asia – that experienced helped me confirm my future pathway.
What’s the one thing that’s going on in the world that you would like to see changed?
Poverty..Injustice…the genocide in west papua – that’s something that I want to see eradicated. Especially there – because it’s in our backyard. It’s in the Pacific and they are our brothers and sisters. It’s so close to home and there’s nothing being done about it. With poverty, it’s everywhere. In New Zealand, poverty is real, but members of our government don’t believe that poverty exists in our country. But it’s here and I’ve seen it with my own eyes.
What do you think is the biggest barrier to achieving as young pacific islander?
Self confidence against some perceptions that are out there for Pacific Islanders. Everyone has the potential to succeed and achieve at the highest ability. However, it’s just a matter of your own self determination and whether you’re willing to actually do it. Sometimes, lack of support from your family can be a barrier as well. Coming from a big family, I know that it can be a struggle to prioritse school at times due to different circumstances. That can also contribute to your self confidence.
How did it feel meeting Prince Harry?
That was awesome…that was a privilege. He’s a good lad (laughs). He’s very nice and I can’t remember how, but I managed to bring up Fiji in the conversation and he was saying how Fiji was beautiful and I was just trying to bring up the Pacific Islands and I ask if he was familiar with any of them…it was just cool that our neighbours came up in the conversation. It wasn’t a long conversation because there were other people there to meet him so he had to go but it was good. I had like butterflies afterwards. I was like “oh my gosh, I’m the first person in my family to meet one of the royals.” Wow. The photo was on the Governer General’s Facebook page and when I saw the shot I was like “what??”. I put it as my DP. (laughs).