Redemption by Vita Kolomatangi

Growing up in a single parent family for me wasn't really a big deal. Learning to cook from a young age, seeing mum always in a rush making it to her second job or being at home alone while she worked was always the norm. It wasn't really until high school I noticed my family was a bit different to others. My beautiful mother did such an amazing job raising me and my brother I rarely saw the effects growing up in a single family can have on children, I got the same amount of love, dedication and care, and maybe even more, that any child with two parents would receive. However the one thing I saw often was how hard my mother worked, there was never a sick day, there was never an "I'll do it later" attitude and there was never an excuse for poor grades or lack of appreciation for what we were blessed with in life (even though I was guilty of often taking it for granted). I'm not sure when the thought of university first entered my mind, but I know it was never my original choice, I never wanted to stay put and study. My plan was always the cliche "travel the world and help out the animals", even with my entire family telling me throughout high school I needed to go to Uni and make something of myself, I was still never quite sure.

 Moving from Sydney to a small town south of Perth to attend high school was the roughest part of my life so far. As young as a I am and as much as most people underestimate me, something I'm used to by now, there were a lot of challenges I faced being the only "cultural" kid in a town with a demographic consisting 97% white Australian. This demographic when broken into its most simple forms leads to either farming families, Surfing families or the small town families. Because of the fact I was so very different, I endured my fair share of racism and bullying from very small-minded school kids, most of who had never spent more than a few weeks away from their town.

The first few years of high school I unfortunately made a reputation for myself. My reputation began from my inability to not react to the names and rumours people spread about me. I was an easy target being new to a town of people who all knew each other, and as if to add fuel to the fire I was different. On top of this I had a tendency to tell people how it is, how it was, and how it’s going to be (a trait I picked up from my ever-so outspoken grandmother). I never refrained from being honest, and certainly never stood down. My reputation soon spread to the staff of my High School and in turn every step out of line I made I was severely punished for, and any altercation that arose, I was always the instigator. In no way shape or form am I intending to downplay my part in these events how ever I think it’s important I make point of how grossly exaggerated my position in numerous situations were. As a result this lead me to the belief that there would be no point in trying at school because I’ll never win. I was suspended 4 times by year 11, threatened with expulsion, removed from numerous classes and involved with my fair share of physical altercations (with other students of course).

One day I was pulled into my vice-principals office and we had a talk. A week later I was pulled into my principals office and we also had a talk, however this time he asked me to close the door. Both staff made some disgusting allegations and things were said to me that have still stuck with me to this day. It was on the walk home that I realized there was nothing I can do, how am I ever going to over come these people who seemed to be trying to continuously categorise me as another lost cause, another case of “he doesn’t come from the typical successful background, so why bother”. This was the moment I realized the only way I’m ever going to channel all this emotion and anger was to prove them all wrong. I thought to myself: if I don’t do something now they will be right, they would have gotten exactly what they wanted and I’ll be serving them at the Woolworths checkouts in this tiny town for the next 10 years. I decided to stay and continue HSC and not follow through with my intention of dropping out, which I hadn’t told anyone about. I fought through the derogatory names I was called by both students and staff members, the continuing racism and bullying, and the doubt I saw in people’s eyes when I told them I wanted to attend Uni.

I went on to top my HSC Biology class at graduation, I received an ATAR 12 points above my estimated score in year 11 and attended The University of Sydney, the highest ranked University out of any Uni attended by my Year 12 cohort. I rarely tell people my entire story, because I think we all came from different backgrounds with different obstacles we’ve had to over come. But if I can reach out to just one other kid who’s struggling to fight against becoming just another statistic, then there’s a good reason to tell it.

Throughout my journey I met some amazing people who have now become some of my best friends, and even though I have moved back to Sydney we are all still in close contact. Founding Sydney University Pasifika Society with other Pacific Islander students was my way of creating a support system. Not just for international students but also for the others just like us, who were able to break the mould society has created for them. Attending Sydney Uni can be daunting at first, particularly when it’s hard to find others like you. But I hope that through this we will be able to encourage more young Pacific Islanders to attend University and further themselves through their education.