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Celebrating the success of our graduates
Learners came together from around the country to cross the stage at our Graduation ceremony at Due Drop Events Centre in Manukau on Friday.
Eligible graduates came from 18 different programmes and 28 different ethnicities.
Group Chief Executive Sam Alavi addressed graduates saying it was always heartening to attend graduations.
“This is what all of us here strive for, dream about, work towards,” he said.
He talked about all of the distractions in today’s world that might prevent people from staying the course. He said graduates should be very proud of themselves for going the distance.
Sam said life was becoming more complex with rapid changes in technology affecting the way we worked and got things done. Education, he said, was the key to staying relevant.
Sam advised graduates to keep the momentum going and make lifelong learning their motto.
Guest speaker Mandeep Kaur then shared her story and her journey of resilience.
Mandeep is the Community Engagement Manager at Kāhui Tū Kaha, an organisation that provides a range of health, housing, and social services.
She talked about leaving an arranged marriage in India and moving to a new country as a student and supporting herself.
After working in various jobs she realised she could pursue a career in fields traditionally reserved for males back home at that time.
Mandeep started training for the police and soon became the first female Indian-born police officer in New Zealand. She served for 20 years, working her way up to senior sergeant.
Graduate speaker Krystal Pompey then talked about the change she had made in her life.
Krystal had a history of addiction spanning many years but had decided enough was enough and wanted to make a change for her children.
She put herself in rehabilitation and says it was the best decision she’s ever made. Residential care was hard but “good-hard”, she said. Her children kept her on track and focused.
She decided she wanted to continue in the field of working with whanau and friends and supporting them with addiction and mental health and enrolled in our Level 4 Mental Health and Addiction programme.
During the programme, she found her own placement at the Salvation Army Epsom Lodge, left a lasting impression there, and was offered employment. She now plans to undertake a Bachelor of Social Work.
