“I was struggling with being bored because I was doing nothing but sitting around home and smoking dope. I felt no life in that.”
My name is Wiri and I am 17 years old. Before I started this course, I was on ACC after a serious neck injury I got on March 23rd due to a heavy and hard night of drinking. I did a few days in Waikato hospital and doctors had told me that I had been really close to being paralysed. I am blessed to this day that I am not in a wheelchair.
Before the accident, I had previously been working doing sheep sheering but after the accident, I was not able to physically work. I was struggling with being bored because I was doing nothing but sitting around home and smoking dope. I felt no life in that.
That was a hard season for me to break through, but because of my neck injury and being off work, it’s allowed me to join Live for More and be out with the boys shredding some waves. Being able to join Live for More and do this course has actually helped me in so many ways.
“Surfing is my new addiction and I long for waves when I can’t get out there! “
Live for More has helped me find new things in life that I really enjoy. I have new passions – one of them being surfing. Surfing is my new addiction and I long for waves when I can’t get out there! When I’m out surfing, I feel relaxed and stable. Surfing calms my mind and is refreshing for me because being in the water makes me feel at peace.
Live for More has also helped me with finding my purpose in life. I was working before and loved it – can’t lie – but after a while, it started to not feel right. So having this time off work and being on Tai Wātea got me thinking about a lot of things and what I wanted to do after graduating. I’ve always had an interest in barbering and love to tutu with shavers. With the support of Live for More, I have signed up and am now enrolled to start a full-time barbers course in a few weeks time. I am so rapt and excited about this.
Live for More has been so encouraging for me and the brothers. They have put us on the right track and helped us find and realise our potential.
I just wanna say to the boys – Congratulations.