It had been over an hour, and a year had passed since I last travelled down to support five of my students who had received the scholarship.
We had a lovely luncheon with speeches and tikanga (cultural protocols) Māori, which were so encouraging for the many recipients who received awards.
Some had Māori or Pasifika backgrounds, and it was beautiful to see them with their family members celebrating together. It was also neat to attend as a kaiako or teacher/lecturer to see them celebrating a significant milestone in studying for the Diploma of Bicultural Professional Supervision.
On the drive back, which was over an hour during peak hour traffic, i.e. the after-school run, I reflected on how I had been blessed with my father's vision and support from my mother to get a 'good education'.
I've since been able to share that support with many other students over the years, encouraging them to pursue higher education, such as a Master's degree, and some even to the PhD level. It also helps to have a campus that is based on Indigenous Māori values and principles for future leaders...
No comments:
Post a Comment