It started when I was doing an AUT Edge award and had to do some volunteering as part of that. I put my hand up to do volunteering at the book fair and I really enjoyed that. And then I was asked to come back and volunteer at something else, and I’ve been volunteering ever since.
It wasn’t actually a big event but the Christmas lunch, it was really nice to be part of this event. For the first time it really highlighted to me what MS Auckland does for people which enabled me to feel accomplished about the volunteering work that I do and how MS Auckland actually supports people.
It meant that I could hear people’s personal stories which gave me a new perspective.
The first thing that comes to mind, although events might look easy if you’re participating in them, but there is a lot of work that happens behind the scenes work. Like the book fair, it’s six months of work for three days. So I’ve learned how much effort is put in for the community. There’s a lot more that goes on than you think.
And I’ll think, that’s another six months that’s gone into making that happen. I see it for its value. It takes this long to do, and benefits this many people. The sheer effort that’s put into charity events.
I think my ability to empathise with people has gotten better. It’s also given me an opportunity to understand charities. They work really really hard for the benefit of people and it’s amazing to be a part of that.
I’m usually at uni, I’m a third year Chemistry student. Or, I’m watching k-dramas. I enjoy Korean culture and learning a bit of the language.
What are your long term goals?
I’d like to get my PhD and move to Germany to hopefully continue my research into antisense oligonucleotides (ASO).
It’s a synthetically made short strand of DNA or RNA used for treating disease on a molecular level. I have been interested in it for some time, seperate to my volunteering. Then during my study about ASO, multiple sclerosis popped up! I saw that this has potential as a leading treatment for MS in the future.
So now, it’s something I’m passionate about as I see how MS Auckland helps people and I would feel really accomplished if I can help treat MS. I can be passionate about it academically and also socially with my community work.
I’m thinking that I’ll travel to Germany after my PhD to help with my MS study, so I’m learning German!
My favourite animal is a Eurasian Lynx, a snow animal. I just find them really majestic and beautiful. I had a book when I was young about animals, it was really scientific. I was drawn to the Lynx, it’s powerful but also fluffy and quite unique. It’s seclusive.
Coming to terms with an MS diagnosis was a tough process. It felt I was living a double life—Eventually, I recognised that knowledge was key.
