Much has been written about how the world has changed in the wake of the chaos that Covid-19 has created, but the most appropriate quote appears to be that of a nine-year-old who accurately described 2020 as a “pretty stink” year.
So, for this edition, we’ve brought together stories from an amazing bunch of students like you, who have embraced the opportunities that distance learning has offered them and seized their moment.
Take Emma Adams and Aaron Walden as one example. To the outsider, they had the jobs and perfect lifestyle of living in New Zealand’s biggest city … but they weren’t happy. They wanted to return to the land, and now, thanks to SIT2LRN and some hard work, they’ve achieved their goals and are living their dream.
Courtney Hurt-Suwan is using SIT2LRN to change her life. Despite dropping out of high school, her undergraduate research is of such high quality that her dissertation is being published. She’s passionate about assisting Māori in obtaining employment and she’s on the road to achieving that dream.
Rob Emerson is living proof that it’s never too late in life to start studying. He didn’t find his passion for education until he was in his 40s but he’s making up for lost time now – his professional coaching qualification from SIT2LRN is just one aspect of what’s helping him encourage a group of challenged Timaru teenagers to develop their passion for learning.
These four, and the others we talk to, have all embraced the challenge of juggling their normal lives with studying. It’s not something that’s easily done, but the rewards are there for those who persevere. And it may just be those skills – in a time of great change – that open up the most doors.
Keep safe and be kind.