Inspiring future academics
Proud Ngāti Toa iwi member Grace Davies graduated From Otago University with a Master in Health Services with distinction in December. She is currently taking a break from her studies and appreciates not having to study in her spare time. Although she is contemplating undertaking her PhD in the future.
Grace is the proud daughter of Telringa and Michael Davies. She is the mokopuna of Ruihi Solomon and Joan Solomon. She has two younger brothers Michael and Regan who are aged 20 and 24. Grace jokes that she is the nerdy sibling but have learnt so much from her younger brothers, She feels lucky to be their big sister.
Grace feels fortunate to have grown up in Takapūwāhia Pā where your aunties and uncles are just as invested in your future as you are. She is grateful to all her whānau who have helped raise her.
She started her Master’s Thesis in November 2021 and submitted it for assessment in January 2024. It was quite a process that took just over two years to develop. She then went through a thorough assessment period with the university. Her final results were confirmed at the end of April.
Grace explains it took many sacrifices to reach her goal. This included studying to the early hours of the morning , including her Christmas and New Year’s break. She also was required to attend a number of events in order to prepare her thesis. She is grateful for the support from her whānau, friends, mahi and especially her incredible supervisor Dr Esther Willing (who also whakapapa to Ngāti Toa). She believe she would definitely not have survived without them.
Grace is passionate about health, wellbeing, her whānau and community. These are her main drivers that keep her motivated, both in mahi and her personal life. In her spare time, she enjoys hanging out with friends, whānau and her partner.
Her favourite food is whitebait fritters and her mum’s steam pudding. She enjoys New Zealand bands such as LAB, Six60 and Sons of Zion. She is also a huge fan of the Eagles, most likely because it was always played growing up.
Her advice to rangatahi who are thinking about studying after college is to just do it and be true to what they really want to do. She believes it is important to accept and work with any obstacle that comes your way. When she started her study journey she wanted to become a doctor. However, after taking a Public Health paper and advice from Māori Heath Advisors, she purse a new study direction in Health Services. Since then, she has not looked back. She believes sometimes you must be open to where study wants to take you.