Merit awards net straight A's

Tu Tangata, Issue 22, 1 February 1985, Page 5

Merit awards net straight A's

“I started looking forward, rather than back. .

Rayleen Elliot was a straight-A student at last year’s secretarial course at Porirua Polytech. It was no surprise that she topped the course, yet she says it was. Second top secretary graduate in the Wellington region and second ever Maori to top this course. Rayleen is 18. Already she’s recognised as another brick in the strengthening foundations of Maori talent. Rayleen Elliott was one of over a hundred people recognised at this years Wellington District Maori Council Merit Awards. The awards were presented to outstanding Maori students in Wellington schools by Maori Education Director, Willie Kaa.

Over a hundred pieces of sporting, academic and cultural recognition. To recipients they meant a sense of achievement and hope. These certificates will fill resumes which should help them find jobs. That was one aim W.D.M. Council secretary Leslie Parr was counting on when the awards were first presented four years ago. “The awards will help recognise our talented kids while breaking the traditional stereotypes of the lazy Maori,” she says.

“These awards will help them stand tall. . . it’s already proved itself. “Look around.” Award recipients walk carefully up the steps careful not to trip (causing embarrassment), shake Willie Kaa’s hand or hongi, take their awards and listen carefully to his advice. Onstage the awardees stand tall, silent. After the claps and maybe a waiata from some of the schools represented, they walk off stage. Some go outside and have a smoke, others mill about tapping each other and giggling, you’d never think they’d cared about getting these awards. But they had. No-one will deny that typical prizegiving high. A pat on the back everyone appreciates.

Leslie Parr’s also counts on this small reward to act as an incentive, encouraging kids to do well at school while opening their eyes to the future. The attitude of opening doors rather than believing they’re all closed to begin with. The spark needed to set alight ambition and hope, something, Leslie Parr says, Maori kids generally don’t get enough of, something people like Rayleen now have. Rayleen left Porirua’s Aotea College

with what most people would see as a neat sporting and cultural package and a three subject school certificate pass. She played senior A netball, basketball and was involved with her school council, the Maori Woman’s Welfare League and ‘Te Ao Marama’ Polynesian club. Her sixth form year was spent on science subjects and typing. No luck with U.E. She left school in 1983 realising her School C wouldn’t attract jobs. In 1984 she topped her Polytechnic secretarial course and her outlook on life and its prospects changed.

She had worked against people with U.E. and seventh form Bursary passes. “I didn’t think of competing against anyone, I just did the work,” she says. “Others got good marks, but I think I was more consistent. “I got a buzz when I topped the course, wouldn’t you?” At the end of ’B4 her outlook on life and its prospects had changed. Her qualifications are attracting job offers as a junior secretary and shorthand/typist. But she doesn’t want to be a secretary anymore. “What I really want to do is become an accountant. “Secretarial work on its own is boring. I’ll probably get a job and save money to see me through an accounting course at tech.” Rayleen however, disagrees that the course was wasted on her. “When I topped the course it opened my eyes, that better things were possible. I know see that things are limitless. I started looking forward instead of back.”