Year 12 Complete

Honestly, to say I'm proud of this girl would be an absolute understatement! The things my niece Jeanette has been through and overcome in her 18 years on this earth are things no baby, child or young teenage girl should ever have had to endure and with the love, support, guidance and stability in her life for the last 6 years it has given her opportunity to do something she never ever thought was possible for someone like her. Her final year of high school threw everything at her. A change of carer, a massive change of lifestyle, COVID, lockdown, isolation, just to name a few; had her second guessing her ability to finish year 12. But last Friday, against all odds, Jeanette went to school for the last time ever. The morning of, I cried with pride for everyone in our family. Her parents both past and present, her grandparents both past and present but most of all for the young girl who entered my home all those years ago and set this goal for herself. The young girl who got up every day, occasionally missed the bus, but got herself educated regardless of what was going on around her. I know her 13 years of schooling was sometimes tough, sometimes hard, exhausting and frustrating but things really turned around when she started at Gisborne Secondary College. The school itself worked so closely with us to attend to Jeanettes every need over the years. Jeanette grew more and more confident knowing she had a supportive group of teachers and close friends around her. And as her  friends began dropping out around her she struggled on without them but made new friends along the way. This girl is an absolute inspiration to kids in care, to her culture, to the future generations of our family and to anyone who simply thinks they can't! This girl can - And she did!

Congratulations with all my heart Jeanette!

The first in our family to complete year 12!

I am beyond proud of you!

Nevaeh and I picking her up from school one last time
30-10-2020