Hineiti Monika will graduate with a
Bachelor of Applied Social Sciences in
May. Hineiti wants to help children who
are disadvantaged, as she was in her
earlier years.

As she worked to make sense of tragedy, wagging and boozing early in her life, Hineiti Monika forged tough parts of her past into tools of her trade as a social worker.

Graduating in May from EIT Tairāwhiti with a Bachelor of Applied Social Science, Hineiti is now 23, a student support worker at Gisborne Girls’ High School and the regional coordinator of Students Against Dangerous Driving (SADD).

Both roles express her passion for helping young people deal with adversity and make decisions that will lead them and children they may have to better
futures.

When she was just nine, Hineiti lost her mother to cancer. When she was 13, her “second mum”- her nan – died after a short illness.

Reeling from this double blow, she lost interest in school, began wagging and drinking before settling into a group of friends who supported her
education.

“It all gave me a soft spot for children with disadvantages. Their past doesn’t need to determine their future.”

A third tragedy struck Hineiti’s family during her study, as a cousin took his own life.

She says her degree has helped her deal with this new loss.

Hineiti says she found the library staff and the self-reflective aspect of study at EIT useful. “It makes you feel good when someone gives you
powerful and encouraging words. My life motto is: You reap what you sow.”