Goals, Challenges and Life's Learnings with the Students of Westland High School
June 2024 | Made of Gold
Our founder Shaun and Luminaries Holly, Rosie and Katie ventured to Westland High School to talk to the Senior School about their journey starting out on the Coast to striking gold on the New Zealand and international stages. In this candid Q&A, we hear all about their challenges and triumphs, their goals and milestones, and the life lessons they've learned along the way so far.
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Shaun opened the morning with a laugh about Monday mornings and his personal connection to the school, having been a student at Westland High himself roughly 35 years ago. He spoke about wanting to start a conversation with the students about what's possible, using the Luminaries as proof that people from Hokitika can go out into the world and do extraordinary things. |
"We have some wonderful examples of people who have lived in Hokitika that have gone out in that big wide world and done well," Shaun told the students. "We want you to start to create some dreams yourself. What is it that you want from your life? How is it that you want to take that step forward, and do those things that you think might be crazily impossible, but are really up to you. You can do it."
With that, he introduced the three Luminaries joining him for the morning.
Meet the Luminaries
Rosie Kelly | Rugby League
Rosie grew up on the Coast until she was 12, playing rugby from age four alongside competitive athletics. She later attended boarding school in Christchurch, studied physiotherapy in Otago and now plays rugby full time in Christchurch while training with the New Zealand Sevens in Mount Maunganui. Her proudest achievement to date is debuting for New Zealand last year.
Katie Thompson | Singer / Songwriter
Katie is a country singer-songwriter and fifth-generation West Coaster from Hokitika. She started in school choirs and orchestra, played drums in a rock band, then picked up guitar. She's opened for Elton John, released three albums, toured New Zealand and travelled to Vienna to write and record with other musicians. Alongside performing, she works as an artist development mentor and handles social media for several musicians.
Holly Robinson | Para-athlete
Holly competes as a Paralympic athlete specialising in javelin and shot put, and is heading to her fourth Paralympics this year in Paris. Born without her left hand, Holly grew up in Hokitika facing early challenges in sport, but with the support of her coach Danny Spark and her family, she pursued her passion and has gone on to win two Paralympic medals, seven World Championship medals and a Commonwealth Games medal.
How do you go from Hokitika to what you're doing now? What inspired you to start that dream?
Holly: "Growing up on the West Coast, I faced challenges, particularly in sports due to my missing left hand. My coach, Danny Spark, believed in me and helped me start my journey. My family also played a huge role. Each step of the way, I had people who believed in me and pushed me to be my best. The community here in Hokitika always rallied behind me, and that support was crucial in my development as an athlete."
Rosie: "My older brother played rugby, and I followed in his footsteps. My dad, who was my athletics coach, was very supportive. He sacrificed a lot of time to help me achieve my goals. Moving to Christchurch was a big step, but it opened up so many opportunities. The transition from Hokitika to the national stage was challenging, but it taught me resilience and determination."
Katie: "I had an amazing music teacher here, Sophie Ralph, who encouraged us to write our own music. The local community, including people at jam nights, supported me immensely. Starting out in Hokitika, the sense of community and the encouragement I received made a huge difference. Every performance, every song I write, is a tribute to the roots and the people who helped me get here."
What are the best and worst things about being on the Coast when you have big dreams?
Katie: "The best part is the support from the community. People here are genuinely invested in your success and will go out of their way to help you. The worst part is not having many people my age pursuing music, so I often felt alone in that. The isolation forced me to be more creative and find unique ways to share my music."
Rosie: "The best thing is the outdoor lifestyle and playing multiple sports. The worst thing was being the only female rugby player, which meant I had to travel and go to boarding school to pursue my dreams. It was tough leaving home at a young age, but it was necessary to reach the next level in my sport."
Holly: "The community support was the best part. Knowing that the entire town was behind me gave me extra motivation. The biggest challenge was not having proper facilities like an athletics track, which meant I had to move away to compete at higher levels. Moving to a place with better facilities was a game-changer, but I always carried the spirit of Hokitika with me."
How do you manage stress and the pressure of achieving your goals?
Holly: "My first Paralympics in London was incredibly stressful with 80,000 people in the crowd. Mental health struggles are common in sports, and finding a balance outside of athletics was crucial for me. For me, connecting with nature, spending time with family, and engaging in community activities helped manage the pressure."
Rosie: "Balancing rugby and personal life is key. I stay connected with my family and try to take breaks from rugby to manage stress. The support system around me, including teammates and coaches, plays a crucial role. We look out for each other and ensure we're all in a good mental space."
Katie: "Setting goals and celebrating achievements helps me manage stress. It's important to acknowledge the small wins and take time to appreciate how far you've come. Finding a balance between work and relaxation, and having a strong support network, has been vital in managing the pressures of the industry."
What separates people who have dreams from those who actually do something with them?
Katie: "I think the first step is identifying what you're passionate about. What gets you excited to get out of bed in the morning? For me, once I identify something I want to achieve, I tell someone about it. This way, I have to follow through, because I pride myself on being a woman of my word."
Rosie: "I've always been very competitive and driven to be the best, which motivates me to set and strive for goals. Sacrifices were a big part of my journey, especially during my university years. Living my dream every day now makes all those sacrifices worth it."
A student asked Rosie if she always wanted to be a rugby player.
Rosie: "Yes, but growing up in Hokitika, I didn't know much about the Black Ferns, so I didn't realise rugby could be a career. I also had an interest in the medical field, which led me to study physiotherapy as a backup. But I always loved rugby and sports."
Holly: "My journey started from a dream of being the best in the world, but it required a lot of hard work and perseverance. There were many tough times, but staying connected to my 'why', my passion and love for representing New Zealand, kept me going."
What's one of your proudest achievements, and what are your current goals?
Katie: "One of my proudest moments was opening for Sir Elton John in front of 35,500 people in Dunedin. My current goal is to continue writing better songs and releasing more music. I'm also excited about attending a songwriting retreat in Nashville next year, a long-time dream of mine."
Rosie: "My proudest achievement was debuting for New Zealand last year against Australia, with my family there to watch. My next goal is to debut in the sevens format of rugby for New Zealand and hopefully secure a full-time contract."
Holly: "Winning my first global gold in Tokyo was incredible, but being the New Zealand flag bearer at the 2016 Paralympics' opening ceremony was a particularly proud moment."
How do your passions impact other areas of your life, especially balancing work and passion?
Holly: "Commitment to my goals in sports has translated into other areas of my life, such as work. Skills like time management, hard work, and dedication learned from sports have been invaluable."
Rosie: "Public speaking is a skill I've developed through sports, which is surprising but essential for interacting with different people. Resilience is another key skill. After going off contract with the Black Ferns Fifteens, I thought it was the end of the world, but I quickly adjusted my mindset and realised it was a blessing in disguise."
Katie: "I had no idea I wanted to pursue music when I was your age. I tried various things, including hairdressing and business management, which all contributed to making me a well-rounded musician. The journey taught me that the actual performance is just a small part of the job, the rest is hard work behind the scenes."
Reflecting on high school, what were your thoughts while listening to people on stage back then?
Rosie: "Honestly, I was a bit jealous and thought I'd never achieve what they had. It wasn't until I put my mind to it that I realised my potential."
Holly: "We all started where you are now. With hard work and support, you can achieve your dreams too."
Katie: "It's about finding what you're passionate about. I initially pursued hairdressing but always returned to music. It's essential to try different things and figure out what excites you, then find a way to make it sustainable."
Rosie: "In Year 13, I changed my mind multiple times. I wanted to go to university but was afraid to leave Christchurch. Eventually, I pursued physiotherapy and rugby, which made me a well-rounded person."
Holly: "I loved sports and proving people wrong who doubted my abilities due to my disability. Sports allowed me to show that hard work and determination matter more than any physical differences."
Have you experienced burnout, and how did you cope with it?
Katie: "Yes, about every three years! But I'm getting better. It's amazing to have your passion and other outlets too, so you're a fully formed person. If you get a no or a rejection letter for an application, it doesn't hit as hard when you've got other things to fall back on. Coming from a small town, I'd enter country singing competitions around the country and take the hits so hard, with nobody I could talk to who actually understood on a personal level. Finding people who are doing the same thing as you can be really helpful, and the internet is a wonderful place for that. Looking after your mental health, and the younger you start, the better off you are."
Holly: "I've experienced burnout a lot, about four times across my career where I've thought about giving up altogether. It took some key people around me to say, 'Hey, you're not quite in the right space,' before I realised how burnt out I was and that I needed to take some time out from the sport. Generally after a burnout, I take about a month or two off to refocus. Managing priorities and being organised are key to preventing burnout, especially during stressful times like exams."
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The Gold for Good programme exists because we believe the West Coast produces remarkable people. Not despite the fact that it's remote, brutal and demanding — because of it. Westland High School is full of them. |
If you're a young person from the Coast with drive and ambition, or someone who'd like to mentor the next generation,
we'd love to hear from you.