FUTURE POSITIVE

I applied for Pinnacle back in 2017 as a yr 11. A close friend of mine, Georgia Taylor, had just gotten back from The Spirit of Adventure and told me about her experience with Pinnacle. Growing up, I liked to juggle sports, arts, music and academics, so it seemed only natural to jump at another opportunity. Upon applying online, I knew little about the programme but kept an open mind for absolutely anything.

I have always been excited and hands-on in learning about the world and spent my childhood constantly exploring through playing music, competing in sports, making art, and volunteering. Doing these activities, I felt comfortable. The one thing I lacked, being almost impossible to learn in a classroom, is self-confidence. I was always a shy child, constantly in my own world, with a limited ability to communicate my ideas to others. Through the mentorship provided by everyone in the Pinnacle community and the personal development courses at Outward Bound and The Spirit of Adventure, I realised my confidence and will continue to harness it for the betterment of society.

Both my parents are immigrants and have dedicated their lives to ensuring my sister, and I grew up with limitless opportunities. Being a New Zealander has made me feel grateful for my privilege, as I understand the inequity my parents faced growing up.

I want to make my parents and everyone who has invested their time and resources into me proud. I understand my privilege and want to give back to the community so the world can be a more equitable place.

I am also driven by a growth mindset, knowing that "I can't do that... yet." However, I can realise my goals with the right amount of time, hard work, and luck.

I love to bake, go on walks outdoors, and watch random sitcoms.

Future Positive, for me, is a mindset where we constantly work to make the earth a better place for all. This encompasses many things, from eliminating discrimination and inequity to transitioning the earth to a sustainable circular economy. I believe everyone can find a place to realise Future Positive. For me, that is harnessing revolutionary technologies to make the world a more equitable place.

My biggest passion is human-centred design. In 5 years, I hope to work at the intersection of technology, business, and UX to bring my vision of an equitable society to life.

Humans have an incredible ability to problem solve. It comes down to a biological instinct: when faced with external pressures, we must evolve to survive. I feel optimistic that the government continues to have open conversations about world issues and makes quantifiable goals to achieve them. It also excites me that we live in a technological revolution where cutting-edge solutions are innovating to help everyone.