five years ago I spent every day for over five months walking along the river
over five months walking along the river
over five months walking along the river searching for my brother’s body he had
searching for my brother’s body he had
searching for my brother’s body he had committed suicide by joining this period
committed suicide by joining this period
committed suicide by joining this period of time as you can imagine was really
of time as you can imagine was really
of time as you can imagine was really traumatic and it was actually it’s
traumatic and it was actually it’s
traumatic and it was actually it’s actually really surreal he looked back
actually really surreal he looked back
actually really surreal he looked back and annoyed with hindsight because I
and annoyed with hindsight because I
and annoyed with hindsight because I came from busy career in London in human
came from busy career in London in human
came from busy career in London in human rights advocacy and then suddenly came
rights advocacy and then suddenly came
rights advocacy and then suddenly came home to Derry and had nothing to do all
home to Derry and had nothing to do all
home to Derry and had nothing to do all day every day except you search along
day every day except you search along
day every day except you search along the river for his body and it took us
the river for his body and it took us
the river for his body and it took us five months but we did find him he was
five months but we did find him he was
five months but we did find him he was washed up on a beach and on the goal but
washed up on a beach and on the goal but
washed up on a beach and on the goal but because the life was very simple for
because the life was very simple for
because the life was very simple for those five months I used to get up every
those five months I used to get up every
those five months I used to get up every morning I would get the well he’s on I
morning I would get the well he’s on I
morning I would get the well he’s on I would have the raincoat on and I just be
would have the raincoat on and I just be
would have the raincoat on and I just be walking that was all I was doing and it
walking that was all I was doing and it
walking that was all I was doing and it gave me a lot of time to think and
gave me a lot of time to think and
gave me a lot of time to think and reflect so during this period of
reflect so during this period of
reflect so during this period of reflection I really began to think a lot
reflection I really began to think a lot
reflection I really began to think a lot about the lives of my brother and myself
about the lives of my brother and myself
about the lives of my brother and myself we’d grown up in exactly the same family
we’d grown up in exactly the same family
we’d grown up in exactly the same family but we’d had completely and utterly
but we’d had completely and utterly
but we’d had completely and utterly different paths in life and I started
different paths in life and I started
different paths in life and I started thinking a lot about our childhood it
thinking a lot about our childhood it
thinking a lot about our childhood it would have been a very tough childhood
would have been a very tough childhood
would have been a very tough childhood we would have witnessed a lot of
we would have witnessed a lot of
we would have witnessed a lot of domestic violence and even one of my
domestic violence and even one of my
domestic violence and even one of my first memories was a particularly
first memories was a particularly
first memories was a particularly serious incidents in Patrick’s Day and
serious incidents in Patrick’s Day and
serious incidents in Patrick’s Day and I’ve never been able to enjoy some
I’ve never been able to enjoy some
I’ve never been able to enjoy some patrick’s day ever since there would
patrick’s day ever since there would
patrick’s day ever since there would have been a lot of moving around every
have been a lot of moving around every
have been a lot of moving around every few months we’ve been moving house
few months we’ve been moving house
few months we’ve been moving house theatres childhood and we would have
theatres childhood and we would have
theatres childhood and we would have been quite socially excluded as well and
been quite socially excluded as well and
been quite socially excluded as well and my brother’s case and he would have been
my brother’s case and he would have been
my brother’s case and he would have been worse very withdrawn but in my case and
worse very withdrawn but in my case and
worse very withdrawn but in my case and I was really lucky I got on to go to a
I was really lucky I got on to go to a
I was really lucky I got on to go to a grammar school I got one of those I
grammar school I got one of those I
grammar school I got one of those I passed it the national exam to go and
passed it the national exam to go and
passed it the national exam to go and study at a grammar school but no one
study at a grammar school but no one
study at a grammar school but no one known as the parents wanted their kids
known as the parents wanted their kids
known as the parents wanted their kids to be friends with me because I was from
to be friends with me because I was from
to be friends with me because I was from a really rough background and in terms
a really rough background and in terms
a really rough background and in terms of daily life it would have been things
of daily life it would have been things
of daily life it would have been things like the elctricity being cut off you
like the elctricity being cut off you
like the elctricity being cut off you know fended for food things like that so
know fended for food things like that so
know fended for food things like that so at the outset looking at looking at both
at the outset looking at looking at both
at the outset looking at looking at both our lives at that age our lives would
our lives at that age our lives would
our lives at that age our lives would have been quite predestined I suppose
have been quite predestined I suppose
have been quite predestined I suppose you know what in terms of our upbringing
you know what in terms of our upbringing
you know what in terms of our upbringing you you probably could have predicted a
you you probably could have predicted a
you you probably could have predicted a path but then we had very different
path but then we had very different
path but then we had very different paths after that and he he would have
paths after that and he he would have
paths after that and he he would have left school at 16 he was
left school at 16 he was
left school at 16 he was really really bright kid really really
really really bright kid really really
really really bright kid really really Sparky and bright but he would have just
Sparky and bright but he would have just
Sparky and bright but he would have just because of the circumstances low
because of the circumstances low
because of the circumstances low confidence no I don’t ever believe not
confidence no I don’t ever believe not
confidence no I don’t ever believe not him he would have left school with no
him he would have left school with no
him he would have left school with no qualifications and then he would have
qualifications and then he would have
qualifications and then he would have been unemployed for five years and until
been unemployed for five years and until
been unemployed for five years and until he died whereas I was able to get
he died whereas I was able to get
he died whereas I was able to get educated go off study law training law
educated go off study law training law
educated go off study law training law so we had really different paths and
so we had really different paths and
so we had really different paths and thinking about it during this period I
thinking about it during this period I
thinking about it during this period I wondered what was the key difference
wondered what was the key difference
wondered what was the key difference between myself and him and as I saw it
between myself and him and as I saw it
between myself and him and as I saw it that the key variable was the fact that
that the key variable was the fact that
that the key variable was the fact that it has time of his death he felt he had
it has time of his death he felt he had
it has time of his death he felt he had no choices in life was I felt I had lots
no choices in life was I felt I had lots
no choices in life was I felt I had lots and lots and lots of choices and then I
and lots and lots of choices and then I
and lots and lots of choices and then I thought why why did he have choice why
thought why why did he have choice why
thought why why did he have choice why did I have choices and he didn’t have
did I have choices and he didn’t have
did I have choices and he didn’t have choices and what I what I realized the
choices and what I what I realized the
choices and what I what I realized the analyst it was because of self belief
analyst it was because of self belief
analyst it was because of self belief and even though the circumstances that I
and even though the circumstances that I
and even though the circumstances that I grew up in
grew up in
grew up in we’re very difficult I always knew in my
we’re very difficult I always knew in my
we’re very difficult I always knew in my head I always had a belief that my life
head I always had a belief that my life
head I always had a belief that my life was gonna be completely different I knew
was gonna be completely different I knew
was gonna be completely different I knew that that was going to drive me forward
that that was going to drive me forward
that that was going to drive me forward education was going to be the way that I
education was going to be the way that I
education was going to be the way that I was going to change my path in life so I
was going to change my path in life so I
was going to change my path in life so I suppose what I first realized that I had
suppose what I first realized that I had
suppose what I first realized that I had this self belief I was 14 years old and
this self belief I was 14 years old and
this self belief I was 14 years old and I was in school as I said I was very
I was in school as I said I was very
I was in school as I said I was very socially excluded I wasn’t what kind of
socially excluded I wasn’t what kind of
socially excluded I wasn’t what kind of a kid I would have been the typical nerd
a kid I would have been the typical nerd
a kid I would have been the typical nerd always stuck in a corner with my head in
always stuck in a corner with my head in
always stuck in a corner with my head in a book and and what I realized was I was
a book and and what I realized was I was
a book and and what I realized was I was terrible at sports like absolutely
terrible at sports like absolutely
terrible at sports like absolutely appalling you know I wouldn’t I would
appalling you know I wouldn’t I would
appalling you know I wouldn’t I would have been miles and miles behind
have been miles and miles behind
have been miles and miles behind everyone else or the athletic people and
everyone else or the athletic people and
everyone else or the athletic people and I decided I was gonna try and get good
I decided I was gonna try and get good
I decided I was gonna try and get good at sports one sport I was gonna pick a
at sports one sport I was gonna pick a
at sports one sport I was gonna pick a sport and I was gonna get on the school
sport and I was gonna get on the school
sport and I was gonna get on the school team so I thought I’ll go for a nice
team so I thought I’ll go for a nice
team so I thought I’ll go for a nice solid or his fourth so I don’t have to
solid or his fourth so I don’t have to
solid or his fourth so I don’t have to worry about other people throw-in the
worry about other people throw-in the
worry about other people throw-in the ball to me like a netballer ga because
ball to me like a netballer ga because
ball to me like a netballer ga because that’s completely out of my hands
that’s completely out of my hands
that’s completely out of my hands whether I can get good at that or not so
whether I can get good at that or not so
whether I can get good at that or not so I thought I’d go for a nice hard sport
I thought I’d go for a nice hard sport
I thought I’d go for a nice hard sport I’ll go for cross-country running if I
I’ll go for cross-country running if I
I’ll go for cross-country running if I was really bad at that so I decided I’m
was really bad at that so I decided I’m
was really bad at that so I decided I’m gonna start training I’m gonna get on
gonna start training I’m gonna get on
gonna start training I’m gonna get on the school team there were six spots on
the school team there were six spots on
the school team there were six spots on the team and I was gonna get one of
the team and I was gonna get one of
the team and I was gonna get one of those spots some way so I started
those spots some way so I started
those spots some way so I started training and at the start and for a very
training and at the start and for a very
training and at the start and for a very long time I was still really terrible so
long time I was still really terrible so
long time I was still really terrible so like the skill that I was at it was on a
like the skill that I was at it was on a
like the skill that I was at it was on a big bag hell so at lunchtime we’d all
big bag hell so at lunchtime we’d all
big bag hell so at lunchtime we’d all run the team under the people other
run the team under the people other
run the team under the people other people like himself trying to get on the
people like himself trying to get on the
people like himself trying to get on the team would
team would
team would tradin and you began off the hill and i
tradin and you began off the hill and i
tradin and you began off the hill and i would be miles and miles and miles
would be miles and miles and miles
would be miles and miles and miles behind everyone else and I was actually
behind everyone else and I was actually
behind everyone else and I was actually sometimes hope when they don’t for lapis
sometimes hope when they don’t for lapis
sometimes hope when they don’t for lapis look as if I was just the same and it
look as if I was just the same and it
look as if I was just the same and it was you know it was it was really bad I
was you know it was it was really bad I
was you know it was it was really bad I remember I used to get to the top of the
remember I used to get to the top of the
remember I used to get to the top of the hill and hide behind a bush so I could
hill and hide behind a bush so I could
hill and hide behind a bush so I could catch my breath before I started again
catch my breath before I started again
catch my breath before I started again because a lot of people will be sitting
because a lot of people will be sitting
because a lot of people will be sitting outside having their lunch in the grass
outside having their lunch in the grass
outside having their lunch in the grass and they could see you so you were
and they could see you so you were
and they could see you so you were really and everyone could see you see
really and everyone could see you see
really and everyone could see you see you and see how bad you were in my case
you and see how bad you were in my case
you and see how bad you were in my case and they even actually gave me an award
and they even actually gave me an award
and they even actually gave me an award and at the end of the year when they
and at the end of the year when they
and at the end of the year when they have the awards and everyone was getting
have the awards and everyone was getting
have the awards and everyone was getting all these great awards and you know the
all these great awards and you know the
all these great awards and you know the athletic teams they gave me one for
athletic teams they gave me one for
athletic teams they gave me one for gutsiness because I was so terrible but
gutsiness because I was so terrible but
gutsiness because I was so terrible but I stuck at it and you know they couldn’t
I stuck at it and you know they couldn’t
I stuck at it and you know they couldn’t believe that I was still stuck at it and
believe that I was still stuck at it and
believe that I was still stuck at it and I used to go I remember I used to go out
I used to go I remember I used to go out
I used to go I remember I used to go out training around the estate where I lived
training around the estate where I lived
training around the estate where I lived it’s half 6:00 in the morning
it’s half 6:00 in the morning
it’s half 6:00 in the morning if I wanted to get some extra training
if I wanted to get some extra training
if I wanted to get some extra training and I was actually petrified so I
and I was actually petrified so I
and I was actually petrified so I thought I’m gonna be attacked because
thought I’m gonna be attacked because
thought I’m gonna be attacked because it’s pitch black and I’m running around
it’s pitch black and I’m running around
it’s pitch black and I’m running around in the dark for us it was great it was
in the dark for us it was great it was
in the dark for us it was great it was darks nero could see how bad it was but
darks nero could see how bad it was but
darks nero could see how bad it was but eventually you know i I was still I
eventually you know i I was still I
eventually you know i I was still I wasn’t great that I was getting a wee
wasn’t great that I was getting a wee
wasn’t great that I was getting a wee bit better but I remember then one day
bit better but I remember then one day
bit better but I remember then one day the coach came to me and she said look
the coach came to me and she said look
the coach came to me and she said look what is the team has been injured we’ve
what is the team has been injured we’ve
what is the team has been injured we’ve got a spot on the team do you want to be
got a spot on the team do you want to be
got a spot on the team do you want to be in the team I said Wow
in the team I said Wow
in the team I said Wow yes course I would have read in a team
yes course I would have read in a team
yes course I would have read in a team of course so I got on the team and I was
of course so I got on the team and I was
of course so I got on the team and I was all delighted with myself
all delighted with myself
all delighted with myself and eventually I got better and better
and eventually I got better and better
and eventually I got better and better and but what I realized through that
and but what I realized through that
and but what I realized through that experience was it was actually that
experience was it was actually that
experience was it was actually that belief that self belief which drove me
belief that self belief which drove me
belief that self belief which drove me forward and which which enabled me to
forward and which which enabled me to
forward and which which enabled me to get better and not actually translated
get better and not actually translated
get better and not actually translated under all the other areas of my life
under all the other areas of my life
under all the other areas of my life then I was a straight-a student and
then I was a straight-a student and
then I was a straight-a student and ended off getting top marks in in the
ended off getting top marks in in the
ended off getting top marks in in the country in the National exams I’m gonna
country in the National exams I’m gonna
country in the National exams I’m gonna have to be law and then went off to
have to be law and then went off to
have to be law and then went off to Brussels to work and then London but it
Brussels to work and then London but it
Brussels to work and then London but it was actually that self belief which
was actually that self belief which
was actually that self belief which which I realized that made it made a
which I realized that made it made a
which I realized that made it made a difference and in my life that my
difference and in my life that my
difference and in my life that my brother didn’t have so following on from
brother didn’t have so following on from
brother didn’t have so following on from that when my brother died I founded an
that when my brother died I founded an
that when my brother died I founded an organization do you work with young
organization do you work with young
organization do you work with young people who don’t have as many choices in
people who don’t have as many choices in
people who don’t have as many choices in life to try and work with Md instill and
life to try and work with Md instill and
life to try and work with Md instill and them self belief so that they would have
them self belief so that they would have
them self belief so that they would have more choices in life so we work with
more choices in life so we work with
more choices in life so we work with young people from backgrounds where
young people from backgrounds where
young people from backgrounds where there’s zero employment
there’s zero employment
there’s zero employment the family with their 0 history of
the family with their 0 history of
the family with their 0 history of education attainment some of them irfan
education attainment some of them irfan
education attainment some of them irfan in the care system some of them there
in the care system some of them there
in the care system some of them there might be addiction in the family or
might be addiction in the family or
might be addiction in the family or other issues but that’s the old people
other issues but that’s the old people
other issues but that’s the old people that we work with and it does work and
that we work with and it does work and
that we work with and it does work and I’ve got so many hundreds of stories
I’ve got so many hundreds of stories
I’ve got so many hundreds of stories that I could tell about Hawaii and stone
that I could tell about Hawaii and stone
that I could tell about Hawaii and stone self-belief and these young people has
self-belief and these young people has
self-belief and these young people has enabled them to access education and
enabled them to access education and
enabled them to access education and choices and other opportunities but I’m
choices and other opportunities but I’m
choices and other opportunities but I’m just going to tell maybe a few today so
just going to tell maybe a few today so
just going to tell maybe a few today so one of the young people that I work with
one of the young people that I work with
one of the young people that I work with at the start I used to go run the skills
at the start I used to go run the skills
at the start I used to go run the skills asking for recommendations from the
asking for recommendations from the
asking for recommendations from the principals of young people who benefit
principals of young people who benefit
principals of young people who benefit from the program it’s a highly intensive
from the program it’s a highly intensive
from the program it’s a highly intensive three-year program and I remember in one
three-year program and I remember in one
three-year program and I remember in one of the schools she said no one’s
of the schools she said no one’s
of the schools she said no one’s interested in the program at all except
interested in the program at all except
interested in the program at all except this one guy but you but you don’t want
this one guy but you but you don’t want
this one guy but you but you don’t want him you know he’s with new hope for him
him you know he’s with new hope for him
him you know he’s with new hope for him he’s you don’t want him and when I
he’s you don’t want him and when I
he’s you don’t want him and when I actually got over my shock this is what
actually got over my shock this is what
actually got over my shock this is what she was saying and I thought this is
she was saying and I thought this is
she was saying and I thought this is exactly the kind of guy that we need to
exactly the kind of guy that we need to
exactly the kind of guy that we need to work with and so we started working with
work with and so we started working with
work with and so we started working with them over a two or three year period
them over a two or three year period
them over a two or three year period really intensively and I’m not really
really intensively and I’m not really
really intensively and I’m not really pleased to say that he’s actually in
pleased to say that he’s actually in
pleased to say that he’s actually in college at the moment he study in
college at the moment he study in
college at the moment he study in psychology he was the first in his
psychology he was the first in his
psychology he was the first in his family to do as lead and sir and he’s
family to do as lead and sir and he’s
family to do as lead and sir and he’s also he found his fondest voice and he’s
also he found his fondest voice and he’s
also he found his fondest voice and he’s really he’s really interested in the
really he’s really interested in the
really he’s really interested in the area of mental health as a result of his
area of mental health as a result of his
area of mental health as a result of his own experiences and he’s now in mental
own experiences and he’s now in mental
own experiences and he’s now in mental health out because he was only on the TV
health out because he was only on the TV
health out because he was only on the TV nationally last week he does a lot of
nationally last week he does a lot of
nationally last week he does a lot of speaking at national conferences he’s
speaking at national conferences he’s
speaking at national conferences he’s always in the media and the radio and
always in the media and the radio and
always in the media and the radio and the newspapers and it’s it’s really
the newspapers and it’s it’s really
the newspapers and it’s it’s really ironic that the guy that the principal
ironic that the guy that the principal
ironic that the guy that the principal had no hope for is actually bringing
had no hope for is actually bringing
had no hope for is actually bringing hope to other young people in Ireland
hope to other young people in Ireland
hope to other young people in Ireland another example of a gear and she when
another example of a gear and she when
another example of a gear and she when she first came with us
she first came with us
she first came with us she had no confidence in herself and she
she had no confidence in herself and she
she had no confidence in herself and she had lost both her parents when she was
had lost both her parents when she was
had lost both her parents when she was really young 3 or 4 they both died from
really young 3 or 4 they both died from
really young 3 or 4 they both died from drug addictions and her in her 13
drug addictions and her in her 13
drug addictions and her in her 13 brothers and sisters were all spread out
brothers and sisters were all spread out
brothers and sisters were all spread out through the care system and had no
through the care system and had no
through the care system and had no contact with each other so when she
contact with each other so when she
contact with each other so when she first came to work with us she had no
first came to work with us she had no
first came to work with us she had no aspirations and some of her older
aspirations and some of her older
aspirations and some of her older siblings were actually living in the
siblings were actually living in the
siblings were actually living in the streets of Dublin homeless so she really
streets of Dublin homeless so she really
streets of Dublin homeless so she really thought like what can I do with my life
thought like what can I do with my life
thought like what can I do with my life and and the hardest thing with her was
and and the hardest thing with her was
and and the hardest thing with her was actually identifying what her
actually identifying what her
actually identifying what her aspirations were and but she realized
aspirations were and but she realized
aspirations were and but she realized that what she was really passionate
that what she was really passionate
that what she was really passionate about was the tourism industry so I’m
about was the tourism industry so I’m
about was the tourism industry so I’m really pleased to say no she’s at
really pleased to say no she’s at
really pleased to say no she’s at to pursue further education and in
to pursue further education and in
to pursue further education and in tourism management since she’s following
tourism management since she’s following
tourism management since she’s following her dream but as I said the hardest
her dream but as I said the hardest
her dream but as I said the hardest thing for her was actually identifying
thing for her was actually identifying
thing for her was actually identifying what that dream was I know their guy and
what that dream was I know their guy and
what that dream was I know their guy and when he started working with us and he
when he started working with us and he
when he started working with us and he didn’t really know what he wanted to do
didn’t really know what he wanted to do
didn’t really know what he wanted to do either both his parents were on social
either both his parents were on social
either both his parents were on social welfare he was thinking maybe I’ll leave
welfare he was thinking maybe I’ll leave
welfare he was thinking maybe I’ll leave school and work in a factory or a shop
school and work in a factory or a shop
school and work in a factory or a shop or whatever but we could see straight
or whatever but we could see straight
or whatever but we could see straight away he was really really sharp and we
away he was really really sharp and we
away he was really really sharp and we started kind of pursuing out with them
started kind of pursuing out with them
started kind of pursuing out with them and he realized he was really passionate
and he realized he was really passionate
and he realized he was really passionate about the politics and law and
about the politics and law and
about the politics and law and governance and we really encourage that
governance and we really encourage that
governance and we really encourage that in him and I really pleased to say he’s
in him and I really pleased to say he’s
in him and I really pleased to say he’s actually nine Trinity College doing law
actually nine Trinity College doing law
actually nine Trinity College doing law and politics which is one of the hardest
and politics which is one of the hardest
and politics which is one of the hardest courses to get nd in the country and
courses to get nd in the country and
courses to get nd in the country and that was through pursuing a feat a
that was through pursuing a feat a
that was through pursuing a feat a qualification first of all you know
qualification first of all you know
qualification first of all you know there is these paths it doesn’t it
there is these paths it doesn’t it
there is these paths it doesn’t it hasn’t always linear and by doing a few
hasn’t always linear and by doing a few
hasn’t always linear and by doing a few other courses first he was able to get
other courses first he was able to get
other courses first he was able to get into this course which is amazing and
into this course which is amazing and
into this course which is amazing and he’s also a really strong interest in
he’s also a really strong interest in
he’s also a really strong interest in encouraging other young people to access
encouraging other young people to access
encouraging other young people to access education against the odds he comes from
education against the odds he comes from
education against the odds he comes from an area where there’s a lot of gang
an area where there’s a lot of gang
an area where there’s a lot of gang activity and violence and there’s only
activity and violence and there’s only
activity and violence and there’s only 16 percent of young people in his area
16 percent of young people in his area
16 percent of young people in his area which are able to access further and
which are able to access further and
which are able to access further and higher education in 2016 so that’s
higher education in 2016 so that’s
higher education in 2016 so that’s something he’s really passionate about
something he’s really passionate about
something he’s really passionate about he’s he does a lot of programs at the
he’s he does a lot of programs at the
he’s he does a lot of programs at the moment he’s involved in Trinities with
moment he’s involved in Trinities with
moment he’s involved in Trinities with our access programs he’s all about
our access programs he’s all about
our access programs he’s all about encouraging other young people and to be
encouraging other young people and to be
encouraging other young people and to be able to access you know these kind of
able to access you know these kind of
able to access you know these kind of opportunities and then finally just one
opportunities and then finally just one
opportunities and then finally just one more Garrett I like to talk about and
more Garrett I like to talk about and
more Garrett I like to talk about and she when she first joined the program
she when she first joined the program
she when she first joined the program she would have been very very withdrawn
she would have been very very withdrawn
she would have been very very withdrawn she would have been very quiet her hair
she would have been very quiet her hair
she would have been very quiet her hair doing and there was a lot of stuff going
doing and there was a lot of stuff going
doing and there was a lot of stuff going on in her family background you know you
on in her family background you know you
on in her family background you know you know as a result of kennefa impacted on
know as a result of kennefa impacted on
know as a result of kennefa impacted on her confidence and but what we find was
her confidence and but what we find was
her confidence and but what we find was that she was an incredible leader in the
that she was an incredible leader in the
that she was an incredible leader in the program and all the other young people
program and all the other young people
program and all the other young people would have really looked up to her and
would have really looked up to her and
would have really looked up to her and so she would have again not really what
so she would have again not really what
so she would have again not really what I thought she was going to stay on her
I thought she was going to stay on her
I thought she was going to stay on her principal actually told me to take her
principal actually told me to take her
principal actually told me to take her because they were going to chuck her out
because they were going to chuck her out
because they were going to chuck her out of school if we didn’t take her in our
of school if we didn’t take her in our
of school if we didn’t take her in our program and so she said she wasn’t
program and so she said she wasn’t
program and so she said she wasn’t really think she never thought of
really think she never thought of
really think she never thought of herself in an educational mindset she
herself in an educational mindset she
herself in an educational mindset she just thought that’s not for me and but
just thought that’s not for me and but
just thought that’s not for me and but we encouraged her she was – you then
we encouraged her she was – you then
we encouraged her she was – you then became the first in her whole family
became the first in her whole family
became the first in her whole family do the Junior sir she was the first no
do the Junior sir she was the first no
do the Junior sir she was the first no family did he leave insert I know she’s
family did he leave insert I know she’s
family did he leave insert I know she’s actually pursuing further education and
actually pursuing further education and
actually pursuing further education and in youth work but the thing that really
in youth work but the thing that really
in youth work but the thing that really the really sticks out for me about this
the really sticks out for me about this
the really sticks out for me about this this young person was when she was like
this young person was when she was like
this young person was when she was like waiting on her leaving set results last
waiting on her leaving set results last
waiting on her leaving set results last year she did an interview on national
year she did an interview on national
year she did an interview on national radio and the presenter said you know
radio and the presenter said you know
radio and the presenter said you know how do you think you’ve done you got it
how do you think you’ve done you got it
how do you think you’ve done you got it pass your exams and she said I don’t
pass your exams and she said I don’t
pass your exams and she said I don’t know I don’t really think so but you
know I don’t really think so but you
know I don’t really think so but you know what it actually doesn’t matter he
know what it actually doesn’t matter he
know what it actually doesn’t matter he said I’m gonna be somebody anyway
said I’m gonna be somebody anyway
said I’m gonna be somebody anyway regardless of whether I pass the exam
regardless of whether I pass the exam
regardless of whether I pass the exam this year she said I know that I’m gonna
this year she said I know that I’m gonna
this year she said I know that I’m gonna be successful no matter what I do she
be successful no matter what I do she
be successful no matter what I do she did pass their exams which is brilliant
did pass their exams which is brilliant
did pass their exams which is brilliant but it was that it was that mentality
but it was that it was that mentality
but it was that it was that mentality that she know had she had a complete
that she know had she had a complete
that she know had she had a complete self belief in herself that she would
self belief in herself that she would
self belief in herself that she would get there no matter what and so that’s
get there no matter what and so that’s
get there no matter what and so that’s the idea that I wanted to share with you
the idea that I wanted to share with you
the idea that I wanted to share with you today that if we can encourage our young
today that if we can encourage our young
today that if we can encourage our young people to have belief in their cells
people to have belief in their cells
people to have belief in their cells they can go on and access other
they can go on and access other
they can go on and access other opportunities that might be education
opportunities that might be education
opportunities that might be education but it’s also about ensuring that they
but it’s also about ensuring that they
but it’s also about ensuring that they can be happy and successful in whatever
can be happy and successful in whatever
can be happy and successful in whatever whatever they do and by opening up these
whatever they do and by opening up these
whatever they do and by opening up these roots to them they can make choices in
roots to them they can make choices in
roots to them they can make choices in life which a lot of these young people
life which a lot of these young people
life which a lot of these young people don’t have thank you
don’t have thank you
don’t have thank you [Applause]
you
you [Music]
”
Be First to Comment