Mother of Five heads for Nursing Degree

January, 2017

Rachel Pirere is a textbook example of how to make the most of education opportunities.

After a long break from education, Rachel joined the Healthcare programme at Training For You. Now the determined mother of five is on a steady ascent through tertiary education with a degree qualification in her sights.

As a child in Taumarunui, Rachel enjoyed school and did well but she left at aged 13 to care for younger nieces and nephews. At age 16 many of her peers were starting families and she was encouraged to believe that her life would follow a similar path, and was told she would surely have a family by the time she was aged 21. Rachel wasn’t ready for children and was keen to row her own boat, so she left Taumarunui in pursuit of work opportunities. She moved to Whanganui and joined the Hannahs shoe factory. When her 21st birthday came around she celebrated in style and reminded her mother that she was not going to follow the norm.

However she didn’t forget her family responsibilities or her natural instinct to look after others, returning to Taumarunui to care for her elderly grandparents until their passing. Following that she moved to Tauranga, commencing a 12-year career in meat processing. Her attention to detail and conscientious work ethic secured her the role of Osmeat Auditor, monitoring quality standards according to strict meat processing regulations.

But a profession in healthcare was always calling. Says Rachel, “I’ve always wanted to care for people.” In November 2015, Rachel commenced the Healthcare programme with tertiary training provider Training For You. “Training For You was my first opportunity to do some training, and I grabbed it with both hands.”

The 13-week programme is designed to provide students with a Level 2 qualification, and the knowledge and skills required to become a support worker in the health, disability and aged support sector. It is also a great springboard for further study in those fields, to certificate, diploma and degree qualifications.

Rachel has found that living and learning in Whanganui is easy. “Training here is so doable. I can’t understand why a lot of people aren’t doing study. It’s all there if you want it.”

While at Training For You, she made some significant life changes. Giving up smoking was one, “I didn’t want to start a programme of healthcare being a smoker.” She had a goal to be smokefree by the end of 2016 and the money that she saved since has allowed her to buy a good vehicle for her family.

Following the Training For You Healthcare programme, Rachel enrolled into the Certificate in Science and Health programme with Whanganui UCOL – a one-year, Level 3 qualification. She passed her Semester One papers with A grades, and in October was awarded a scholarship from Akoranga Education Trust to study further. She has since been accepted onto the UCOL Bachelor of Nursing Degree, to commence this year. The Level 7 programme is a big challenge, but a realistic one, “I didn’t think nursing was an option for me. But once I got into the swing of things, and I saw how I was progressing, I realised that I can do this.”

Rachel credits Training For You, and particularly Healthcare tutor Vanessa Seconi with her learning success, “It all started at Training For You. Vanessa gave me the drive to go further. I’ve got the utmost respect for Vanessa. I feel in my heart that if it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t have made it this far. She opened my eyes.” Rachel describes Vanessa’s personable teaching style as the secret of her success, “She made you believe in yourself. She believed in what you were doing.”

Vanessa Seconi was delighted to receive a visit from her ex-student when Rachel visited the Training For You campus to share her scholarship news, “It is very special to see ex-students realise their potential and take the next plunge to study at Level 7. Rachel is very focused and has amazing time management skills - I believe she will make a wonderful nurse and I wish her all the best”.

After proudly starting her family at aged 25, Rachel now has five children aged from 4 to 17 years, and all are watching her keenly on her learning journey, “My children are proud of me. They’ve seen that if Mum can do it, they can do it.” Her 10-year-old son recently received a Student of the Year Award - his enthusiasm for learning has been spurred by his Mum’s achievements. Rachel is thrilled to be making an impact for herself and for her family, “I’m loving my journey at the moment. I can see a goal.”