Sajeela Ismail, 38, at the Eastern Institute of Technology in Taradale, where she completed a Masters of Health Science in June. Photo / Warren Buckland
Sajeela Ismail, 38, at the Eastern Institute of Technology in Taradale, where she completed a Masters of Health Science in June. Photo / Warren Buckland
Sajeela Ismail never thought she'd be in Hawke's Bay for 19 months in a row.
But now she's convinced the region is where she wants her boys to grow up.
The 38-year-old paediatric dentist left her family in Kerala in the south of India in February 2020 to pursue hersecond master's degree, this time in Health Science, at the Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT).
As the culture shock of Hawke's Bay set in, so too did Covid-19 around the world.
"When I came to New Zealand without my boys I had a return ticket for six months later, I told them I would be coming home in the semester break," Ismail said.
"It was quite an intimidating experience. When people come from abroad the worst we expect is culture shock, but we got something much bigger when we arrived to Covid-19.
"Covid was new to everyone alike, everyone was clueless, so it was a scary time to be new in the country," she said.
Video calls with family have been key, but it's been challenging.
"It's difficult, but quite a lot of people are in the same boat as me."
Despite the stress of being away from her two boys and isolated in a foreign country during a pandemic, Ismail has excelled in her studies at EIT.
"My thesis looked at the feasibility of a supervised toothbrushing programme in New Zealand schools based on the current literature.
"It's an after-lunch programme that is practised around the world and is a matter of two or three minutes," she said.
Ismail's study found there were a number of important aspects to address for the programme to be successful, such as funding and school support.
In June, she graduated with distinction and received the Best Asian Tertiary Student award at the Hawke's Bay Asian Awards in August.
Ismail also holds a master's degree in paediatric dentistry gained from prior studies in India, but unfortunately the qualification does not enable her to practice dentistry in New Zealand.
She looks forward to completing a PhD and her dental registration in the long run.
"I just love studying," Ismail said. "My mother is a doctor, a gynaecologist, and my father is a university professor, so that's what makes me inclined to academy," she said.
Sajeela Ismail, who has a passion for studying and working with children, hopes to be reunited with her two boys soon. Photo / Warren Buckland
Ismail's supervisor, Dr Anita Jagroop-Dearing, described Ismail as a national asset and said she expects big things from her.
"Over the 18 months that I worked with Sajeela as my student, she has been nothing but exceptional. She has always strived for perfection, so I was not at all surprised that she attained all A grades in her postgraduate courses."
Since completing her second master's degree, Ismail has been collaborating with the University of Auckland and EIT on a research project that aims to improve children's nutrition in Hawke's Bay.
Ismail has also been busy in the community, working for Hohepa as a support person for children with disabilities and volunteering at Riding for the Disabled, the Habitat for Humanity shop in Hastings, as well as for Volunteering Hawke's Bay.
She shrugs off her achievements, though:
"Since I'm alone I have plenty of time. I love working with kids, especially kids with special needs".
Sajeela is intent on making Hawke's Bay home, for when her boys can eventually join her.
"Hawke's Bay is different in almost all aspects to Kerala, everything is different. Here I feel more at home, actually. I enjoy the open spaces and the welcoming people.
"It makes me happy meeting all the different people. I have a lot of appreciation for everyone, especially the faculty at EIT. I had a difficult time leaving family and coming over here but I've been embraced into the community, it's been great."
