News | Cover Story In addition to outdoor activities, students are required to participate in 20 plus hours of community service that directly benefits their local community. The development of a new sport, skill or hobby during the school year is also a requirement for each student participating in the WPCA. Last year schools from throughout New Zealand Skyped each other about the adventures they were having. Children wrote blogs on their experiences and the challenge was integrated into class room learning. Pike visits each school at the beginning of the year to deliver a presentation to students to show them that you can achieve – no matter how hard a challenge may seem.
Rosie enjoyed her community work so much she continued well past her 20 hours of compulsory service. Through the challenge her confidence grew and she is proud of her achievements. “I’ve learnt that you’re able to step outside of a situation and not be scared, to challenge yourself in various situations.” Pike pays special credit to Murray’s Bay School, in Auckland, and its principal Ken Pemberton. Pemberton took on Pike as a teacher after his accident, despite not knowing how he would really cope.
“It was a risk. At the time I wasn’t sure what my true ability would be – if I could participate fully in all school areas. He showed his good character, if he hadn’t given me that opportunity to get back into it, to do what every teacher wants to do, it could have really knocked me. I’m forever grateful for him to opening the door for teaching fo me.” In those days Pike still needed to attend a lot of appointments and frequent trips to the “leg shop” (limb clinic). “In my first year teaching there I spent a considerable amount of teaching time
He hopes that this year, with a bit of time off from his day-to-day job, he will be able to visit each school at the beginning and end of the programme as well as complete one of the challenges with some of the participating schools.
Loburn School, near Rangiora, Canterbury, ran the programme for the first time last year. At last year’s graduation ceremony, Pike presented each student with their award – an artificial leg carved out of wood – Pike also received one. After the ceremony Loburn pupil Rosie Ashwin, 13, said the WPCA had opened her eyes to what outdoor activities there were. She has also decided on her future career – through her community work portion of the challenge. “I want to be a nurse when I’m older now. I’ve been working in an old peoples’ home and now I really want to be a nurse – I’m really thankful for that.” She found some of the challenges difficult because she confesses she is a bit of a “fashion kind of make-up girl”. “But I did try my hardest and completed them all. I’m so happy I did because it’s a great achievement. I actually have quite a lot of strength and I’ve found I love being on the water – I’ve taken up sailing.”
That support has continued as Pike has taken on more and more work out of the classroom. “He can see the value in what I’m doing. I may not be in the class but I am working with hundreds and hundreds of other students. The William Pike Challenge wouldn’t be where it is if it wasn’t for his support.” Pike admits it would have been easy for him to become a couch potato after losing his leg but for him the focus became on living life – knowing full well he is extremely lucky to still be here. “Before my accident I was crazy and passionate about the outdoors. I knew what it was like to stand on the mountain top and feel what satisfaction that could bring. The outdoors has taught me to overcome challenges, to be passionate to keep going when things aren’t going well. The outdoors taught me to believe in myself, believe in what I’m doing to become successful.”
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The award has already gained traction – going from one school in 2010 to 21 schools taking part this year.
getting my leg right. He (Ken) was extremely flexible as I was a beginning teacher as well as a teacher going through a lot of changes in his life.”
The outdoors has taught me to overcome challenges, to be passionate to keep going when things aren’t going well. The outdoors taught me to believe in myself, believe in what I’m doing to become successful. - Teacher William Pike
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Sixth President of the United States, John Quincy Adams, once said; “Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.” These words, patience and perseverance, are often scattered amongst the language used by William. Whether he talks about his own challenges or talks to children about the need to overcome their own, perseverance and patience are interspersed among the words and ideas. But more important than the words are the actions. He shows despite great adversity you can achieve your goals through planning, a smattering of courage, and a bucketful of sheer bloody-mindedness. To find out more visit www.williampike.co.nz
www.principalstoday.co.nz Term 1, 2013 | 15