16 April 2024
Young Navigator: ‘I’m taking that pride in my school with me’
Year 13 Aurora College student Tristin Smith has been chosen as the Southland representative for the Young Enterprise Scheme’s Young Navigators business programme.
A Southland student plans to build the business knowledge of his peers when he returns from an entrepreneurial venture in Auckland this month.
Year 13 Aurora College student Tristin Smith has been chosen as the Southland representative for the Young Enterprise Scheme’s Young Navigators business programme, which encourages students to embrace culture as a guiding force for business.
Young Navigators, sponsored by One NZ’s charitable arm – Te Rourou One Aotearoa Foundation – and Pacific Business Trust, combines the Young Enterprise Scheme model with a fast-paced startup weekend, incorporating Māori and Pacific Culture. Over three days, year 12 and 13 students will practice setting up and running their own business through a variety of enterprise-focused activities, encouraging them to connect and collaborate alongside their peers.
As one of just 50 Māori and Pasifika young people throughout Aotearoa to be selected, Smith says the event isn’t just a big opportunity for his own aspirations, but also for his school.
“If I end up going into my own business, it’s going to be great having that knowledge. But for me, it’s about passing on that knowledge after I learn it, especially if any future business I have is successful, if I can have an audience and pass that knowledge on down here, that’s really important,” he says.
“A lot of people misjudge our school, and we don’t always get heaps of these opportunities. When I go up there, I’m doing it for my school, I’m taking that pride in my school with me.”
Young Enterprise Scheme Regional Co-ordinator Leanne Humphrey says Aurora College has only recently joined the Young Enterprise Scheme, and it is “amazing” to see this opportunity arrive for one of its students.
“I was absolutely stoked. There are a lot of applications for these events and to be a new school going straight in, I’m really excited. He’s going to be able to come back and share his experience with us, what it was like and what he learned. It can be life changing,” she says.
Young Navigators will be held in Tamaki Makaurau Auckland from April 22-24.
Source: The Southland Tribune – April 14 2024