"We're Finding Our Way Back": Grace Neilson Honours Her Cook Islands Heritage Through Nursing

Now studying nursing at Ara, Grace says those values have been shaped by both her family and her growing connection to her Cook Islands heritage.

"I've definitely been raised in a family of helping people," she says. "That's all my family's ever done."

Her mum began her career as a nurse before moving into mental health, while her dad worked as a social worker. Over the years, they also opened their home to more than 20 foster children.

Growing up around people who put others first left a lasting impression on Grace.

She also grew up knowing she was Cook Island Māori, but says she wasn't always closely connected to that part of her identity.

That began to change through basketball.

Representing the Cook Islands gave her the opportunity to reconnect with her culture, build relationships with whānau and learn more about her heritage.

"I'll claim I'm Cook Islander any day," Grace says. "We're still learning, but we're finding our way back."

Before coming to nursing, Grace worked as a disability support worker and dental assistant. She also spent time studying psychology.

While she enjoyed learning about people, she realised she wanted a more hands-on career.

"I realised I'm way more of a people person," she says. "I wanted to do more."

The turning point came when her mum suffered a stroke.

Spending time in hospital gave Grace a close-up view of the impact nurses can have on people and their families.

"I could really tell how Mum would perk up depending on whether she'd had a good interaction with a nurse or a bad interaction," she says.

Seeing that difference helped confirm nursing was the right path for her.

"I remember thinking, I want to be that person."

Today, that motivation continues to guide her through her studies and clinical placements at Ara.

And one day, she hopes to be the nurse who makes a difficult day a little easier for someone else.