On the 21st of May, my fellow medical science students and I were selected for the opportunity to go on a Niu Waves Tech Future trip. When we arrived at the Te Ngahere hub, we were welcomed by the staff, who were incredibly kind and friendly. Upon entering the hub, we were met with so many activities to try and learn about. The tech playground exhibits consisted of video games such as Tekken, where my peers and I were able to play against each other and students from other schools. We also created a radio station, built towers out of marshmallows and spaghetti, and explored 3D printing, which was another major highlight; we got to colour in 3D-printed keychains and design our own taonga on the computer for the team to print for us later.

Another exhibit allowed us to customise our own tote bags using vibrant stickers provided by the team. Throughout the program, we were able to get hot drinks and were provided with morning tea and lunch, which we all thoroughly enjoyed. After we completed all the activities, the tech leaders spoke about their experiences navigating their careers. It was truly inspiring to hear each of the four leaders' stories and how their journeys empowered them to get to where they are today. I specifically appreciated seeing Māori and Pasifika tech leaders because it made me feel seen and represented, as our people are often underrepresented in these fields. Hearing them talk about what led them to tech and how they persevered through trials was deeply motivating.

I asked my peers about their highlights of the trip. Maleta said that she really enjoyed playing Tekken, making the radio towers, 3D printing, and hearing the tech leaders' career stories. Phillip enjoyed making his own tote bag and taonga, as well as listening to the leaders talk about how they discovered tech. Miracle enjoyed hearing the speakers' different perspectives on technology and the impact it had on them. She also enjoyed playing games, the catering, and getting to meet new people.

Finally, I would like to thank Mrs Tausā and Ms Passi, who took the time to take my peers and me on this trip, giving us the opportunity to learn and try new things.