BRAD Smeele is a former pro-wakeboarder who spoke at the National Young Leaders Day. PHOTO SUPPLIED
Pro wakeboarder Brad Smeele – left with quadriplegia after an accident – this week inspired local kids as a speaker at the National Young Leaders Day in Hamilton.
Several King Country kura travelled up with students aged 9 to 12; overall there were 80 schools from the Waikato and Bay of Plenty present.
Āria School sent 10 students, which was more than usual.
Thanks to funding through the Rangatahi Pathways programme, (the Three Waters-funded careers initiative administered by Aotahi) the school could send all its year 5 and 6 students, instead of selecting only three or four.
Principal Pam Voyce said the day was “so good for the kids” of today, who had more tendencies towards entitled behaviour than those she had observed in previous generations.
“It’s good for them to see what some of these [speakers] have had to overcome, to be where they are. They could have just crawled into the corner and said ‘Oh poor me’ … but they don’t, they pick themselves up. And it’s not easy.”
While one leadership day might not make a difference, the effects of attending several over their school years would pay off over time for students.
“They start to listen to what’s being said.
“It’s got to come from someone else, other than us. They get sick of their teachers. We’re always going on about resilience and blah, blah, blah. But when you hear someone else saying it, it really means something.”
She said the kids always found the day “exciting” with musicians, comedians and hype contributing to a memorable atmosphere.
“It should make a huge difference to their attitude, to what they want to do and where they want to be and who they are.
“[Leadership is] about working with others, encouraging others and supporting others. And it’s our contribution to our community as well as to ourselves. Building ourselves as good contributors to society.
“We keep going every year. We’re building on these skills, and this day is just part of that.”
Āria teacher Alicia Benefield accompanied the school’s children.
“The theme for 2023 is ‘Leading the self,’ which will encourage students to have a growth mindset and focus on personal progression,” she said.
Overall, it had been “such a great day.”
NYLD had run for 23 years, event director Sarah van’t Hof said.
“It’s a one-day inspirational, motivational kind of event for them. Really high energy.
“We get well-known New Zealanders to come and speak.
“There are interactive activities, music, games and good energy.
“It’s a real coming together … that en-mass experience. We’re all in the room together and they’re all feeling it. When you bring that many together, it’s lots of fun.”
Wakeboarder Brad had been one of the highlights as a speaker, Sarah said.
“Brad is a former pro wakeboarder. [He] had an accident 7-8 years ago which rendered him a quadriplegic, which is really just an incredible story.
“So, he’s really had to dig deep in terms of those lessons around acceptance, reflection and finding a new purpose in his life. His story is really powerful.
“When he’s speaking, you can hear a pin drop in the room. The kids are just totally captivated by him.”
