I recently met up with one of my mates from school. It was an interesting catch up where I quickly came to the realisation that this guy was the still the same joker from high school. He still threw the same jokes around, his laugh was still "dry" and he was the only one laughing at his jokes "typical" 😴. Anyway, after we turned out of memory lane, he began telling me about what he did for a job and how he ended up there. I asked him if he was happy, his reply was " oh you know how it is, its a job it pays the bills" I totally get this and appreciate the brother for standing up and being a man.
The next part of our conversation however hit a nerve. When he asked me what I was up to, I told him I was a teacher back at school. He laughed and asked me again "wait back at TC" I replied yea back at school. He asked me whether I liked it, to which I replied " i love it, its my dream and I am never going anywhere else" he laughed and said " eah that school did nothing for me" look at where I am now" but then hid it behind a brush off line " nah jokes I don't even care".
Now!! This guy should have been the next best thing in performing arts. Back in College this guy took out most of the performing arts prizes, everybody knew him. He had all the talent in the world, knew how to play every musical instrument there was, had a scholarship to start him off and was supported by a school that gave him opportunity as well equipped him with tools and skills to strengthen his talents in performing arts. He had it all but never took any of it, he never caught hold of these opportunities and like any seed you have to work it, grow it and it will flourish. This guy didn't do any of it. Im not saying that I am better than the brother or perfect, NOOO WAYYYY!! The journey here was hard for me, I struggled and if we are "keeping it real" I needed to be slapped in the face with some failures to wake me up.
The point I am making here is, I believe that it doesn't matter what school you go to, whether it be a decile 1 or decile 10, whether it be in Botany or Otara, Remuera or Glen Innes, every student gets the opportunity to succeed, but unfortunately the team that catches the ball and keeps at it will score the try. If you don't catch a hold of these opportunities and run with them someone else will and they will run and reap the rewards.
I get it, I grew up in the hood, I still live in the hood, I don't get the struggle I live the struggle, I only have to look around within my own family and my network to see the blood, sweat and tears on a daily basis- trying to put food on the table and keep up with the bills - "I get it" You see I grew up in the same hood as this guy, I went to the same Primary and College as this guy, we are both polynesian and we both come from similar backgrounds. I only wish that the brother took a hold of all the opportunities he had, so that he could take the world with this talents in performing arts. The point is you can never blame the school because teachers pour their heart and soul into the success of students. As Micheal Jackson says"you have to start with the man in the mirror".
We often spend life wondering and looking at what we don't have, I challenge myself everyday to think about the opportunities that have been presented to me and look at what I have in my hand and make the most of this. Water it, grow it, sow into your dream and make it happen!! Do it because no one else if going to do it for you!!
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