Down Write Brilliant

When I met Jacinda Ardern

By Talia Leach

I work at Rawene Hospital as a patient support assistant. One morning, I went to work and I met a beautiful young woman called Jacinda Ardern, she is New Zealand’s Prime Minister. Because of Covid 19 we did our elbow handshake to say hello. My boss, second in charge to the CEO, Christine, took a photograph of me and Jacinda. On the morning I went to work I did not know I was going to meet the Prime Minister. I helped give out the scones to Jacinda and her entourage. When I first met her, I was a little bit nervous to speak. I said hello to Jacinda, and Jacinda asked me to guess what her favourite scone was. I said “savoury cheese” and she laughed and said “how did you know that?”. I said it was my favourite too. All the people around us were taking photographs, videos, and filming to go on TV. Jacinda is on TV updating on the Covid 19, talking about opening the borders from Auckland also when the airports may open so we can look forward to travel.

My message — live your dreams

By Luka Willems

It is exciting to swim as hard as you can and win a race. It is exciting when people see what you do and say ‘hey that’s great’ but it is also important to try to live your dreams. I am proud of my Zonta Sports award. I am excited to be a finalist in the Youth Attitude awards and I am super proud to win the Advocate for Inclusion and Diversity award for Canterbury Youth Awards. I like being called a Game Changer in 2021. But I am also happy that I try new things. I have gone to Outward Bound this year, I try to be fit and healthy, I swim and ski and I am learning to have the life I wish for. I am leaving school at 19 years to go to Project SEARCH where I will learn skills to help get a good job. I like my work experience at a garden centre and I have a girlfriend called Bella which means beautiful. I did a presentation for the Down Syndrome Virtual World Conference in Dubai called ‘YouTube - My Voice’. I showed everyone where New Zealand is and the wonderful things you can do in Āotearoa. I started with a karakia and showed short clips from my YouTube channel. Mum forgot about the time difference with NZ and Dubai so my presentation was in the middle of the night. So funny. One day I hope you can watch it too! I appreciate that people from all around the world look at my YouTube clips and that it might inspire someone to try new things. Please look up Luka Willems on YouTube and subscribe. It’s free and would make me happy. I want to live my dreams because dreams can last a lifetime. Ngā mihi from Luka Willems (Mum helped me write this, but the thoughts are my own)

live your dreams