Laurice’s Journey: From Travel Dreams to Hospital Wards
When Laurice arrived in New Zealand in 2022, she carried with her a degree in Travel and Tourism Management and a suitcase full of dreams. What she didn’t expect was that her path would lead not to airports and itineraries—but to hospital wards, patient care plans, and a profound sense of purpose.
“I came to New Zealand with a dream but no clear path,” she reflects. “I started as a Healthcare Assistant with zero clinical experience. But every day, I felt it more deeply—this wasn’t just a job. It was a calling.”
Born and raised in the Philippines, she brought with her the cultural values of malasakit (deep empathy) and bayanihan (community spirit)—principles that now guide her every shift. “In Filipino culture, caring for others is second nature. That’s what I bring into every patient interaction.”
Laurice’s journey into healthcare began not with a plan, but with a pivot. Facing limited job opportunities in her original field, she saw an opening in New Zealand’s healthcare sector and stepped into it with courage. What followed was a transformation—personally, professionally, and academically.
“I was inspired by the people around me—colleagues who turned compassion into action, friends who believed in me before I believed in myself. Their encouragement lit a fire in me to pursue nursing.”
To balance full-time work with her growing ambition, she enrolled at NZTC, drawn by its flexible online learning model. “NZTC understood my reality. I needed to keep working while studying, and their platform made that possible. It wasn’t just convenient—it was a lifeline.”
Through NZTC’s Health and Wellbeing program, she discovered a new lens for care. “I learned that healing isn’t just about treating illness—it’s about honouring a person’s story, fears, and hopes. That changed everything for me.”
Her favourite course, Person-Centred Care Practices, left a lasting impression. “One insight stuck with me: ‘Care isn’t done to someone; it’s done with them.’ That shifted how I see every patient—as a partner, not just a case.”
Despite the demands of full-time work and study, she remains grounded in her purpose. “Every shift is a classroom. Every patient teaches me something new. And when someone says, ‘You made me feel human today,’ that’s the fuel that keeps me going.”
Her story is one of resilience, reinvention, and relentless compassion. From tourism to triage, she’s proof that with the right support and a clear sense of purpose, anything is possible.
“Healthcare isn’t just a job—it’s a promise. A promise to keep growing, to keep learning, and to keep showing up for those who need us most.”