I finished High School last year. School wasn’t really for me, as I was not particularly academic. I was good at Art and Drama, but in every other subject ‘Not Achieved’ was the norm. I did not get my NCEA Level 3, so did not have the qualifications needed to get into Uni.
I really did not have any idea what I should do. I was 17 and felt a lot of pressure to make such big life decisions about what I wanted to do for the rest of my life, but didn’t feel like I was mature enough to make them. Should I get a job, or should I be furthering my education? It’s such a big world and I wasn’t sure I knew how to navigate it.
I had friends who tried to help, but they struggled due to their own lack of life experience. It became a quite a lonely journey, not knowing where to turn. I didn’t give up. I knew that I wanted to do “something”, I just needed to find what that “something” was.
I ended up applying for a Level 3 & 4 Foundation Course in Health which I saw on Facebook.
I am doing so well in this course, much better than I did in school. I really enjoy it. I have found lecturers who I am able to learn from and share with, and am learning so many skills and gaining knowledge that I didn’t have. Since beginning this course I have developed an interest in Mental Health. This excites me because a year ago I had no idea what I wanted to do. I am now dreaming bigger, with a different perspective. I have options now.
My ultimate goal would be to combine Mental Health with Art and become an Art Therapist!
