Kiti's Story
Teacher Kitiona Pasene mentored young people through TYMS whilst completing his Postgraduate Diploma in Education.
Kiti says his experience at TYMS has made him a better teacher. When there is trouble with a student he is less quick to judge and takes the time to find out what is going on.
“Mostly our kids at school are just so awesome, and then one day one of them will be off. And nine times out of ten it's something at home. Before I was working at TYMS I would have been like, ‘Hey, pull your head in.’ But after TYMS, before coming to conclusions I actually find out what's going on for the young person.” He also encourages other teachers to look beyond the behaviour.
Whilst working for TYMS, Kiti also saw the value of connecting with whānau and families to help them support their young person. He would often go through school reports, and realise that the parents had no idea what the reports were telling them. “They would see a number ‘2’ there and think that their Year 10 child was doing well - they are nearly at number one. What they don't realise is that the number 2 reflects the reading level of a seven-year-old.”
Kiti did one of his teacher training placements at Onehunga High, where the school were interested in his work with TYMS. Onehunga High School has since joined the Starpath programme, an academic counselling and goal-setting programme, that, among other things, aims is to improve communication with parents and whānau. Kiti saw himself in a lot of the young men he worked with at TYMS. “I say to them, ‘I was just like you. You don't need to be so staunch.’”
Kiti, who currently plays rugby league for the Mt Albert Lions and previously played for the Auckland Vulcans, worked hard to motivate the students he mentored through TYMS. “I would tell them about the teams I played for, and they would ask how they get to do that. I would just tell them, ‘Hard work and education. That's what you need to do. I've been to uni, so can you.’”
“I say go for it – whatever you want to do, go for it. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't.'”
Kiti says his experience at TYMS has made him a better teacher. When there is trouble with a student he is less quick to judge and takes the time to find out what is going on.
“Mostly our kids at school are just so awesome, and then one day one of them will be off. And nine times out of ten it's something at home. Before I was working at TYMS I would have been like, ‘Hey, pull your head in.’ But after TYMS, before coming to conclusions I actually find out what's going on for the young person.” He also encourages other teachers to look beyond the behaviour.
Whilst working for TYMS, Kiti also saw the value of connecting with whānau and families to help them support their young person. He would often go through school reports, and realise that the parents had no idea what the reports were telling them. “They would see a number ‘2’ there and think that their Year 10 child was doing well - they are nearly at number one. What they don't realise is that the number 2 reflects the reading level of a seven-year-old.”
Kiti did one of his teacher training placements at Onehunga High, where the school were interested in his work with TYMS. Onehunga High School has since joined the Starpath programme, an academic counselling and goal-setting programme, that, among other things, aims is to improve communication with parents and whānau. Kiti saw himself in a lot of the young men he worked with at TYMS. “I say to them, ‘I was just like you. You don't need to be so staunch.’”
Kiti, who currently plays rugby league for the Mt Albert Lions and previously played for the Auckland Vulcans, worked hard to motivate the students he mentored through TYMS. “I would tell them about the teams I played for, and they would ask how they get to do that. I would just tell them, ‘Hard work and education. That's what you need to do. I've been to uni, so can you.’”
“I say go for it – whatever you want to do, go for it. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't.'”