There’s many initiatives in our local community that aren’t highly visible, often go unheralded and aren’t accorded the mana which perhaps they deserve for work done in supporting and enhancing other’s lives. I’m using my 500 words in this column as a heads-up for one such initiative I’ve recently experienced.
Murray Smith
Last week I was invited to attend a production prepared by a class at Cambridge High School called Te Haerenga (The Journey). Their brilliant show titled, “Finding My Place” related a whimsical story of ‘Greg’ – a boy in a new learning environment seeking to find exactly where he might fit. It was a wonderfully creative, high energy production. But it was also a very moving experience for those privileged to have seen one of only two shows featured in the school hall. Many attending, expressed how it brought tears to their eyes.
The dedicated Te Haeranga teaching team does such commendable work. They aim to provide a learning environment for young adults with unique challenges, equipping them with necessary life skills for their individual needs. Practical experiences, in and outside of the classroom are provided which help develop these skills, enabling the students to become more confident, connected, actively involved and lifelong learners. These experiences include participating in the arts, work experience, cooking, reading, financial literacy, team sports, excursions and opportunities to develop social interactions.
Often when secondary schools are profiled, the spotlight drifts onto high academic achievement, cups and prizes won, sporting accomplishments and other ‘elite’ outcomes. That’s all valid and completely fair enough but I was reminded by the “Finding My Place” show last week that the pursuit of excellence must always incorporate much broader expressions as criteria for ‘success’.
I was impressed with something a retiring builder said to me not long ago. Having apprenticed numbers of young builders over the years from scratch, to becoming fully qualified he said, “It’s been about building people more than it has been about just building itself.”
Education is a wonderful opportunity for building young people, helping them become better people. Learning environments where our youth are encouraged to become more whole, thoughtful and caring of others, living lives that make a positive difference, have a needed place.
Greg, the young man in the story sought to ‘find his place’ with Mrs Funny, the principal offering opportunities to experience a range of faculty expressions at “Good Times High.” From arts, music, science, to maths and engineering, Greg is provided with ‘doors of opportunity.’ He likes them all but finds his niche with the Te Haerenga class.
In our hearts, ‘finding our place’ is everyone’s quest. We need to feel that somewhere we are an ‘insider’…that we have a place where we matter- where we belong, our people. Who am I? What’s my purpose? Where do I fit? These sorts of questions reverberate in people’s hearts throughout life – often lingering into final sunset years with ponderings about what it’s all been for.
Writing this Faith Column, I’m reminded how ‘finding our place’ is such a deep yearning in many souls – a journey that for me, only began upon receiving God’s unfathomable love. That changed everything.
