Melika Samia | Sport

Talofa lava! My name is Melika Samia. I am 16 years old and I am a year 12 student at Mount Maunganui College. I was born and raised in Hawkes Bay in a Samoan family of six. I previously attended Napier Girls’ High School however, I moved at the beginning of this year to Mount Maunganui with the hope that the change will help me pursue my sporting and other personal goals. I now attend Mount Maunganui College. This change has brought many opportunities for me both on and off court. For my sport, the change has given me the opportunity to play with and against tougher competition who challenge me performance wise. It has also exposed me to different coaching and playing styles which I have had to learn to adjust to. Moving to Mount Maunganui College has given me the opportunity to meet new people, and embrace a different school environment and culture. The school has been extremely supportive of my sport and academics. I am currently taking two NCEA level 3 subjects as a year 12 student, giving me the opportunity to get a head start on my University papers in 2021. Outside of school and sport, moving to Mount Maunganui has taught me valuable lessons in life. I have learnt to embrace and adjust to a different culture, I have learnt to become more independent whilst improving my communication and organisation skills. Being away from home and living with another family, I remind myself of where I have come from, and who has helped me to get where I am today. No matter the setback, I remind myself of the morals I was taught, and carry them with me everywhere I go. I live by the quote “Trust the Process.”