Navigating significant life events: Māori students’ perspectives on pathways to success while studying

Abstract

Resilience is the ability to ‘bounce’ back following adversity. It appears that many factors contribute to resilience and the literature suggests that access to cultural resources and engagement in cultural activities can play a significant role in overcoming adversity for indigenous peoples. This study aimed to investigate and understand Māori students’ experiences and perspectives on staying successfully engaged in studies at The University of Auckland when faced with significant life event(s). Qualitative research methods were used to investigate this phenomenon within a kaupapa Māori framework. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 Māori participants who had successfully navigated through at least one significant life event while studying at The University of Auckland. Participants included undergraduate and postgraduate students from a range of faculties including Arts, Science, Law, Education and Medicine. Analyses of interviews revealed that overcoming adversity involves a number of complex processes. In this study, resilience appeared to play a pivotal role in the participants’ ability to adapt and overcome significant life events while studying. However, individual differences, situational circumstances, and cultural factors influenced resilience in different ways for individual participant’s which, suggests that resilience is a process that continues to evolve in relation to the individuals circumstances. Three specific categories of resilience factors appeared to play a major role in the participants’ ability to successfully navigate through significant life events while studying. Firstly, motivational factors were an important aspect that enabled all the participants to stay engaged and succeed at university despite adversity encountered. Secondly, Māori cultural identity was valued by many of the participants and was perceived as a protective factor that buffered and/or ameliorated the negative effects associated with the significant life events. Finally, coping strategies were identified by all participants as effective for reducing stress, enabling them to pursue their desire to succeed. From a theoretical and practical position, this study contributes to the development of understanding about resilience factors from an indigenous perspective in Aotearoa New Zealand.