Wairarapa’s locally owned community newspaper
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2019
INSIDE: Wairarapa has their say on Master ton’s par klets P13
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Teenager overcomes hardship Emily Ireland The odds have been stacked against Tessa Gibbs most of her life. With parents “incapable” of looking after her, the 17-year-old has worked from a young age to keep herself afloat. Now, with the support of Youth Service, she is on track to graduate from college at the end of this year – all the while living independently and holding down a job. Based in Carterton, Youth Service works with young people not enrolled in education, employment, or training, and provides them with guidance, support, and encouragement to help re-enter them into education or employment. Tessa is one of more than 100 youths on Youth Service’s client list locally. “I’ve been in Youth Service since I was 16. “When I first started school, I thought I was going to drop out the second I turned 16. “But Youth Service helped keep Tessa Gibbs, 17. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
me in school by giving me budgeting advice and helping me pay rent so I didn’t have to drop out and get a job just to live.” Tessa said when she was younger and under the age of 16, she used to work at a dairy for $5 an hour – “that was just to feed myself at my parents because they were bad with money.” Last year, she dropped off 50 CVs to “every place in Masterton” until she got another job. She now works at CLM Masterton supervising and looking after kids as they take part in activities and afterschool care and holiday programmes. This year, Tessa is going into Year 13 at Wairarapa College and hopes to study a certificate in early childhood education. “I would like to be a teacher in a kindergarten and be able to inspire the next generation and help kids out like Youth Service has helped me. “Youth Service has given me the opportunity to just be like any Continued on page 4