The Rising Foundation/ Where are they now?

THE RISING FOUNDATION

The Rising Foundation, an establishment built to help young students lead, inspire and ‘Unlock Their Potential’. This program is developed to help build life-skills and makes the transitions to and from high school a better and easier journey.

Our family environment gives everyone the help and support they need to achieve their goals and give you an unforgettable experience!

You are offered opportunities like day-long excursions, camps and chances to serve the community as well as creating CV’s, getting your driver’s licence, receiving a Duke Of Edinburgh certificate and being a part of an uplifting movement that encourages individuals to be the ‘best they can be’.

Graduates from TRF (The Rising Foundation) have gone on to become police officers, social workers, construction workers, nurses, and lawyers.

This year, we are lucky enough to have the lovely Billie Patterson and Shani Apelu running the embassy and giving us guidance for our journeys. Throughout the year, everyone in the rising has grown together, as a whole and we can’t wait to see some new faces as well as the on-going success from the students at PHS in 2021 and above.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Kia ora,

My name is Azura, I am Flava’s Day show host and a proud Pukekohe High school student! I left school back in 2015 with no idea I’d be where I am today, and as I sit in the Flava studio writing this it’s incredible to reflect on the past 6 years. It took a little bit of luck and A LOT of preparation.

I often found it hard to concentrate in class and struggled during my first couple of years of high school until my year 10 science teacher Dr. Winter kept me behind after class and challenged me to try in the next test. I was the only person in class that got excellence, and for the first time in my life someone who wasn’t a family member believed in me, I was so proud. After that moment, It was like someone hit a switch in my head; school was no longer this boring barrier, it was an aid to my future and who I wanted to be.

During High School, I joined multiple extra-curricular activities such as the council, peer mediator, the Rising Foundation, stage challenge, the school play, and attended most after school tutoring provided by the school. In the beginning, I joined these groups because I knew it would be easier on my family if I got a scholarship but over time I fell in love with the people I’d meet and the rewarding feeling I would get from pushing myself out of my comfort zone. Without a doubt, doing these extra-curricular activities I built character and confidence for what I do today.

After 2 ½ years at New Zealand Broadcasting School in Christchurch, I completed my degree in Radio Broadcasting and began an internship at Flava. During my study, I worked part-time for my company, NZME, 5-6 days a week. It was tiring but it ‘got my foot in the door’ to an industry I’d loved since I could remember. Each day is as challenging as it is fun, mostly I talk but I also do a range of things: interviews, giving things away on-air, creating online content for @flavaradio on Instagram, Tik Tok, and Facebook, I keep updated on what’s happening around the world and with artists, as well as work with clients (Pita Pit, JBL, GHD). I get to brainstorm ideas and watch them come to life.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, sometimes the best things don’t make sense and it’s ok to not know where the hell you’ll end up. No matter what you do, be positive, be patient, and be passionate. - Zu