Failure ‘just another opportunity’

Master of Architectural Science student Ryan Simpson graduates this year and wants to use the opportunities he’s had to give back to his Pacific communities.

A young Samoan man with glasses.
Ryan is now working as a graduate associate at Frequency in Auckland, a specialist project management and advisory business.

“I want to be a role model. To show kids back home in Samoa that if you maximise every opportunity you’re given, you can get to where you want to be.”

Ryan was born in Gisborne to Samoan parents but spent most of his early childhood in Samoa.

“My parents run a local construction company in Samoa. One of my earliest memories was the 2009 tsunami which caused significant damage on the south coast.

“At the time, the country was in distress. Communities pitched in to lend a hand to clean up the debris—including my family’s business.”

Ryan says he was fortunate enough to have been accepted into Kings College in Auckland in 2012, but that it was by no means an easy transition.

“There were lots of challenges, the lifestyle was different, and I didn’t know anyone at the school.

“I went from being top five in my class in Samoa, to getting Cs and failing some subjects in New Zealand.”

But Ryan says he has never been one to shy away from hard work. He says he had his sights set on university from the beginning, and knew he wanted to be the first in his family to go to university.

He says the decision around which university to go to was simple.

“After spending five years in Auckland, I knew it was time to make a lifestyle change and experience new things.

“With my eyes set on architecture as a career, Wellington was my first choice. It wasn’t an easy transition, but some friends from college were also going here so that helped.”

Initially, Ryan enrolled in a Bachelor of Architecture, but after second year he decided to do a conjoint degree between Architecture, majoring in architecture, and Building Science, majoring in project management and sustainable engineering systems.

“I’ve always found value in having a broader skillset, especially so that after university you’re not completely in the unknown. The Building Science degree gave me great vocational and practical skills as opposed to just being theoretical.”

Ryan completed his Bachelor of Architecture and Building Science in 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdown so, despite being immensely proud, his family couldn’t travel to Wellington to celebrate their son’s achievement.

“This time around though, they’re very excited—and I’m very excited to have them here.”

In his five years of study, Ryan says one of his biggest achievements is that he never once handed in an assignment late. But he says that’s not what he wants university to be about.

“Assignments are supposed to help you learn. Sometimes you make mistakes and that’s all good, it doesn’t mean you’re not a nice person, or that you’re a dumb person, or a smart person.

“What’s the worst that’s going to happen if you submit an assignment and it’s wrong? It’s just another chance to get it right. I’d much rather fail and learn, than succeed and not grow.”

He wants people, particularly Pasifika students, to take advantage of the support available here at the University—especially the lecturers.

“Nearly all my lecturers were 100 percent there to go beyond for their students.

“Robin Skinner, Nigel Isaacs, Jacqueline MacIntosh, Robyn Phipps—they all had so much belief in me and would dedicate their time irrespective of their own workload.”

Ryan says the Pasifika Student Success team is also incredible at Te Herenga Waka.

“During lockdowns, they were ringing Pasifika students up to ask what they had, what they needed, and ensure they had the resources available to succeed.

“Luamanuvao Dame Winnie Laban, Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Pasifika)—she gave her time the most though. Although she doesn’t specialise in Architecture, she understood the challenges I was facing, and is a large reason why I adjusted my mindset for achieving excellence.”

Ryan says his biggest motivator though was thinking about the people back home in Samoa.

“My drive comes from them. Whenever I have my moments of thinking I can’t do this, I think about the people in Samoa who would sacrifice everything to have this opportunity.

“I give myself a bit of a reality check: study is not too difficult; living without water, that’s difficult.”

Ryan is currently working as a graduate associate at Frequency in Auckland, a specialist project management and advisory business, but it’s thinking about the people in Samoa that is the main reason Ryan is applying to return to Wellington next year to study a PhD.

He says that if he’s successful and returns to do a PhD, he’s most looking forward to returning to Wellington for the weather—and not just for the good days.

“I like Wellington’s weather way more than Auckland’s! You can dress for the cold, just add another layer on—in Auckland, when I have to wear long-sleeved shirts for work it’s so uncomfortable because it’s so hot.”

He is currently deciding between three topic options: analysing the effectiveness of the locations of essential infrastructure in Samoa; creating a new natural disaster rating evaluation tool for buildings; or developing solar panels with increased weather endurance.

“My one mandatory criterion that I’ve set for myself is that if I’m going to do a PhD, it has to be for the Pacific. It has to be to help make things better there.”