As a Samoan-born Aussie, I’ve faced many challenges living abroad. One of the biggest has been navigating life as a "first"—the first in my family to attend university, and the first, possibly as a Samoan, to study forensics abroad. These milestones came with significant hurdles, from doubt and uncertainty in high school to the ongoing struggle of balancing study time with commitments that are deeply important to me: church, family, and village.

Our experience as Pacific Islanders is unique compared to other migrants. The strong ties to our families, villages, and communities often put us in difficult situations, juggling these responsibilities alongside financial pressures. It’s easy to see why some might feel discouraged from pursuing a career with all that weight.

But here’s the truth: our cultural values and traditions are not obstacles—they’re assets. They taught me resilience, adaptability, and purpose, which helped me succeed. Our mission is to inspire Pacific Islander youth to embrace the hustle mindset, showing them how to weave their cultural values into their journeys in school, work, and sport. By doing so, we’re not just preserving our identity; we’re building a foundation for success.

In all our projects, whether it be radio, workshops or publications, we aim to achieve the aforementioned. Stronger cultural identity for our young people and in turn making successful young pacific islander/ aussies!