Thinking
Youth
We speak to 10 local youths and ask them what’s on their mind.
TAYLA ADAMS
Age 14
I think about life and I feel
really grateful for lots of
stuff , simple things like
having a roof over my head,
a family who are really nice to me, and I feel
privileged to be able to do things like go down
the sounds on the boat, dance class, sports.
I do fear a lot of things but I make myself
overcome them because my mum always told
me that if you’re scared of something you’ve
got to make yourself do it. I’m scared of the
ocean but I’ve just learnt to wake board!
ASHLEE HICKMAN
Age 13
One thing that is always on
my mind is...
Thinking about my dream of
owning a stati onery/accessories empire.
I’ve made a start with a few products
which I sell online... bath bombs, hair
ti es, scrunchies... every dream has to
start somewhere! Take a look - www.
creati veashlee.com
ZOE MEAD
Age 16
I think most teenagers my
age these days are mostly
thinking about work and
school, as well as the future.
Having to fi nd a part ti me job to get things like
a licence, fuel and a car. As well as spending
a couple hours each night completi ng
homework. Preparing myself and setti ng
myself up with a good future is what I fi nd
myself mostly thinking about. Also thinking
about how lucky I am to have such amazing
friends and boyfriend, seeing them everyday
is what gets me through school day aft er day.
JESSICA WILLIAMS
Age 14
Something that is constantly
on my mind is the pressure
of society expectati ons.
Everyone expects you to do
something or be someone that you aren’t,
which can hide who you truely are. You feel
judged if you have a diff erent opinion or you
don’t have a career pathway in mind. Life is
about living and if we are chained to everyone
else then we cannot live.
STELLA LANG
Age 15
I am always thinking about
my future path through my
educati on, being in year 10,
I can start to choose the
courses that can begin to shape my future.
My future will include what I would love to
do in my life and this includes my educati onal
career path and also a zest for travel. I think
about what will impact on our ability to
travel in regards to the recent tragedies
in Christchurch and also the importance
of educati ng ourselves and becoming
involved and knowledgeable in local and
world politi cs so that we have the tools to
impart change as a whole on a global scale,
parti cularly in terms of climate change and
our responsibility as future guardians of our
communiti es, culture and society. There are
so many complex matt ers that we need to
be acutely aware of as a generati on. I believe
this is our duty and responsibility.
IMOGEN BERGHAN
Age 13
I think about the future, most
importantly what will it look
like and what will happen to
the environment in 20 years
ti me. Will earth sti ll be green? I am keen to
be part of the enviro group at my college
which hopefully I can join in my senior years.
As a cadet in the Junior Military airforce, I
enjoy being apart of a group that is all about
making a diff erence.
MORGAN MCALISTER
Age 15
For me it’s important that
my friends and family are
happy. I’m always thinking
about them and wanti ng to
make sure that my interacti ons with them
are positi ve. I don’t want to feel like I’ve let
anyone down if I’ve been selfi sh or allowed
someone to feel bad.
PHEONIX ELTRINGHAN
Age 14
I’ve realised how important
it is to surround yourself
with good people and good
friends. Not being peer
pressured to be someone your not and not
feel like you can’t be yourself. I do think about
the people in my life and how they bring out
the best in me. It’s important to make sure I
have people in my life for the right reasons.
DUGALD BLUE
Age 17
I am in my fi rst year of a
two year farm Cadetship
in the Rakaia Gorge, so my
future is constantly on my
mind. What will I be doing when I fi nish my
Cadetship? I also fi nd I think about home a
lot, from both a work and roots perspecti ve.
BEN HULBURT
Age 18
The environment is a huge
concern. We are almost at
the point of no return and if
we don’t fi x this then there really is no point
debati ng other issues as there won’t be a
world to worry about. The generati ons before
need to help balance the damage that was
done and not leave it for future generati ons.