Childhood dream to become a teacher comes true

Childhood dream to become a teacher comes true

Most of Lisapeta Wilson’s friends played shop, but she always preferred to play teacher.

"I've always wanted to be a teacher; since I was little the dream was there to be a teacher,” Lisapeta says.

"I just remember that I used to play a lot of pretend teacher games for hours and hours and hours."

But her dream was delayed when she left Manurewa High School early, got married and had two children. She now jokes: "I did everything backwards."

On Tuesday the 26-year-old graduated with a Bachelor in Education at the University of Auckland's Spring Graduation ceremony.

“Prior to walking across that stage I was so nervous, I felt sick. But once across, words cannot describe how I felt, I just wept. My parents and husband were there cheering me on.”

"It's a really massive thing for my family. My parents were like 'wow, you're living your dream'.”

Lisapeta, who is expecting her third child, had kept her dream alive with her faith in God and by volunteering at her mother’s early childhood centre. She also enrolled in The School of Foundation Studies at MIT (Manukau Institute of Technology) in courses designed to help students returning to education with literacy and numeracy skills.

She even started a mentoring programme with young girls in South Auckland called The Living Programme.

During her degree she enjoyed placements in Jean Batten School in Mangere East, Holy Cross School in Papatoetoe and Farm Cove Intermediate in Pakuranga.

Lisapeta hopes to start relief teaching next year once she has had her baby. Of Niuean and Cook Islands descent, she wants to use her teaching skills to help Pacific children.

"I think my biggest passion now is to help Pacific Island kids achieve more in their education."

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