Student
wins regional essay award
Tania Rakei
Tania
Rakei, a student at Nukutere College, has received a prize of
a US$100 cheque in recognition of her entry in an essay competition
organised by the Regional Unit for Social and Human Sciences
in Asia and the Pacific (RUSHSAP).
Sixteen
year old Rakei says she was shocked when told the news of her
essay winning an award."I couldn't believe it", she says.
Rakei
says her English teacher Jacqui Sanderson encouraged her to
join the competition.With a choice of ten topics, Rakei chose
the title "Leading a good life amidst temptation" on which to
write her essay.
She
says she has written from "my point of view, what temptations
young people may go through," and "giving my point to those
in need and to those who are tempted." "I have always enjoyed
writing," she adds.
All
members of the Asia-Pacific Social Sciences School Network (APSSSNET)
were invited to participate in the writing competition. One
hundred and eighty seven entries from 13 different countries
were submitted. The contest's aim is to "encourage the students
and teachers to share the information and ideas on social science
issues," says RUSHSAP. The best 10 entries were from Bangladesh,
China, Cook Islands, Fiji, India, Malaysia, Niue, Philippines,
Thailand and Vietnam.Rakei would like to encourage those who
have not had a go at essay competitions, to go for it."You never
know what may happen," she says. Rakei leaves Rarotonga soon
to further her education in Queensland, Australia. - Melina
EtchesTOP
Tania's
essay - Leading a good life amidst temptation
Matthew
chapter seven verse twelve: "Do unto others what you want them
to do unto you." As the Holy Bible has stated this commandment,
I believe that everyone from any age group around the world
would like to be treated with respect, honour, love and dignity.
However,
the interpretation of this holy verse has been changed around.
Teenagers these days are one of the main age groups that often
experience a life that leads them into temptation. The first
step they experience usually comes from family at home. Because
of their unstable life at home with parents treating them with
disrespect brings pain to their innocent little heart. Through
this experience they always come to the conclusion that their
life is not worth living. While thinking of this result to their
mysterious question, "Am I meant to be here? Do I belong to
this family?" They would take their answer on themselves by
introducing alcohol, smoking and drugs to their life. To them,
their life is a waste of time living because they are being
mistreated at home, have no friends to share their problems
with, and naturally think that they are better off leaving this
world through suicide.This has happened many times in many conditions.
Their depression, loneliness, frustration and lack of love from
relatives and friends can lead them to alcohol, smoking, drugs
and last of all suicide. These are the four main killers of
teenagers today.
However
some teenagers have dealt with this mental illness by seeking
help from a new friend whom she/he puts faith and trust in,
to share and to cry out their worries and problems. There is
also another way in helping these teenagers who are deeply troubled
through mind and body. They usually show expressions which are
sad, lost and lonely on their own empty faces calling out to
you for help. Seeing these signs we must act fast in helping
them to get out of their problem and ensuring them that their
life is precious and is the only unique life in the world. Their
life is like a goldmine filled with precious clear crystal which
no one in the world has.
There
are many other reasons for young lives following the path to
a dark blurry room and experience a life that always brings
frustration to their own life. Through the music I have listened
to, I come across some artist who had experienced an awful childhood
and had made them realise what a childhood they had gone through.
One
main reason for this depression and frustration is simply from
the break-up of their parents and having to choose one out of
the two parents to live with.
Eminem
is one artist who has shared his childhood history through music.
Pink is also another artist who feels depressed over the break-up
of her parents. She has named this historical song, "Family
Portrait". So we can express our problems through music in order
to help us rebuild our body back to normal. Through helping
those in trouble who are about to lead their good life amidst
temptation we can always help them by encouraging them that
life is worth living and to encourage them to join in community
activities such as sports, dancing, fundraising for a special
reason, gala etc.
Their
family can also help them by giving them love, care to make
them feel protected and needed, and not forgetting to spend
time together as one family. Communication between the child
and parents is also another method of helping their child.
As
the first move and action starts from home parents should keep
their child occupied. For instance, make them join a dance group
or enrol them in a sport which they particularly enjoy and have
fun. Ensure that parents spend some time in helping them with
their homework. When working together as a team you will be
surprised at the result from your child. The results are usually
found from school, community and not forgetting "the word of
mouth."
So,
each and every one of us has a role to play. With parents and
relatives at home giving them healthy food, spending time together
helping out with various things and supporting them to keep
their good life and not to throw it away through suicide. Children
at school are also another group of people that can help this
child survive the depression they are going through. With their
touch of kind words and being polite we can work things out
in helping the child while going through darkness, and to turned
them around to the bright light.
The
community can also help the child by giving them word of courage,
advice and respecting each other. These are the three main groups
that can give the child their life back and help them to realise
the meaning of life. Through this help line lifestyle they will
definitely change. They usually look up to those who are older
than them as they are their role models. Non-victims are usually
teenagers who have a happy family and have been brought up properly
with healthy food, loved by their parents with kisses and hugs
to comfort their child and who always have their education first
in the line, while social life is laid back for the future.
As
for me, I must admit that I have experienced this problem at
home. I have gone through many ways to get out of this awful
dark narrow road and have managed to survive through the help
of my special friend who is my role model. Through the words
of advice and encouragement she gives me, I can turn myself
around, notice the bright light, and realise that life is a
souvenir.I now have become a leader for my school, a member
of a dance group and a Christian who attends the Avarua Catholic
Church on Sunday at 10.30am and have chosen to live life to
the fullest. I have enjoyed these past months with the children
at school, dealing with customers at Foodland as a part time
job after school and enjoying the rhythm of my culture. I am
still going through life where I sometimes wish to go away and
never exist again, but with my strong determination to live
and reveal my future I am managing to ignore lie thoughts of
giving my life away.
So,
to avoid temptation young people need to value their life and
have the determination to rise to their full potential.
Cook
Islands News, 20th November 2003
