7
A voice for youth
With a voice that fi lls auditoriums
and a heart just as big, it’s no
surprise that Esther is one of the
top youth communicators here in
New Zealand and abroad. Draw-
ing from her own personal story,
Esther delivers a message fi lled with
hope and resilience. Esther’s story
has spoken to thousands of young
people, many of whom have been
impacted and are now making
great life decisions. We ask Esther
for an insight into the world of our
youth and what inspires her to be
their advocate.
WHAT MOTIVATES YOU TO INSPIRE
YOUTH?
What moti vates me the most to inspire youth
is quite simple – I do it because I am able to.
I have come from a background of pain,
heartache and brokenness. As a teenager,
I had an adult (outside my family) that
journeyed with me and helped me to fi nd
answers, pathways through the pain and
encouraged me every step of the way. As a
result, I have learned that I can do that same
for others. I can do that one-on-one and I can
encourage people in large audiences.
I have always believed that the most noble
thing one can do in their lifeti me is use all
the tools and talents they have available to
them, to help and serve as many people as
possible. My story and my set of means that
I am able to present ideas, pathways forward
and inspire hope to all groups of people –
including youth.
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT
WORKING WITH YOUTH?
I love that young people are painfully
honest. They will not laugh at your jokes as
a courtesy, they don’t listen to you because
you are an ‘adult’ and they don’t (necessarily)
care about all the informati on that you
know – they fi rst need to know that you
care, that you will listen and that you want to
understand. Once they do – they aff ord you
the greatest privilege: the ability to speak into
their life.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE GREATEST
CHALLENGES FACING OUR YOUTH TODAY?
There are a lot of challenges that young
people face today: bullying, suicide, mental
illnesses such as depression, anxiety and
all kinds of addicti on. These issues must
be taken seriously – but I believe they are
symptoms of a greater problem: loneliness.
Young people believing they are alone, they
don’t have anyone to turn to, they don’t
know there are answers available to them,
they are unable (or have never been taught)
resilience and because of this, they have
become more suscepti ble to all these other
conditi ons.
WHAT IMPACT DO YOU THINK THE OLDER
GENERATION (40+) HAS HAD ON THE
LIFESTYLE THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE
GROWING UP IN?
From what I have observed the older
generati on or parents 40+ of young people,
have wanted to prepare their children as
much as possible for the future and in doing
so have raised their children to be prepared
by being independent. This has meant more
‘privileges’ at a younger age (compared
to previous generati ons) – and so young
people have more independence and more
freedoms, but perhaps not the wisdom /
responsibility to go with it.
Young people also are highly knowledgeable
in terms of technology and media. This
means that young people have access to so
much informati on and are tech-savvy. This
technology climate is not what the older
generati on has grown up being familiar with
and unless eff ort is made to understand
technology and become savvy, the distance
between generati ons can become very large.
WHAT TOOLS CAN HELP A YOUNG PERSON
CHOOSE THE RIGHT PATH FOR THEM?
I think home (and from mum and dad) is the
best place for a young person to learn values
and choose the right path. There is also
careers advisors, counsellors and teachers
at school. Community groups like churches,
sport teams – any positi ve environments
for growth, you will usually fi nd adults who
genuinely care for young people and have
their best interests at heart.
WHAT ARE SOME PIECES OF ADVICE
THAT YOU CAN OFFER OUR YOUNGER
GENERATION?
YOU ARE NOT ALONE - Find a trusted adult
(parent, family member, teacher, coach)
that you feel like you can talk to, be honest
with and ensure that you talk to them when
you feel like ti mes are hard. They will give
you tools to help you walk through hard
ti mes, things to consider when making big
decisions…listen – they know what they are
talking about!
Pamper mum
this
Mother’s Day..
Because
she
deserves
it.
We offer a range of
relaxing & pampering
treatments perfect to
treat that special
lady in your life.
GIFT VOUCHERS AVAILABLE INSTORE
WHAT PIECE OF ADVICE WOULD YOU
OFFER YOUR YOUNGER SELF?
Don’t pay too much att enti on to what other
people might be thinking about you, they are
probably too busy thinking about themselves.
So dream big and risk big – you are more
talented, more beauti ful, more able than you
give yourself credit for!
WHAT CHANGES WOULD YOU LIKE TO
SEE OUR SOCIETY MAKE TO BENEFIT THE
FUTURE GENERATIONS?
I would like to see a more connected society –
we have more access to each other’s lives, but
we are not more connected. I’d like to see each
generati on, young and older helping, loving,
serving and seeing one another. Then we might
believe we are not alone.
Ph: (03) 579 4707
OPEN 6 DAYS WITH THREE LATE NIGHTS
QUEENS MARKET MALL
CONVENIENTLY SITUATED IN CENTRAL BLENHEIM