In the first week of the school holidays 13th to 21st April 2024, I was lucky enough to attend the Future Leaders Academy in Rarotonga.There were 50 of us that came from New Zealand, Australia and the Cook Islands.

I was put into a syndicate group with ten other students, and over the week we got to experience many different activities, including a business visit to the Pacific Resort. To give back to the community we did a beach clean up which was something nice for all of us to do. We did the cross island hike which took us from one side of Rarotonga to the other over rugged hill country and through tropical plant life.

I really enjoyed the umu experience. This is similar to a hangi but it is cooked above the ground. We prepared the food and then I got to enjoy the meal with my syndicate.

The historical tour of Rarotonga was interesting, this is where we got to see old buildings and learnt a lot about the history of Rarotonga.

Getting the opportunity to be a part of this is a once in a lifetime experience, as for me I gained confidence, met new people and had to challenge myself to get outside of my comfort zone and it gave me the chance to be myself and to realise there are things out there that when I put my mind to it I can achieve.

I highly recommend this trip as you get the opportunity to develop new skills, meet new people and become more confident as a leader. If you are interested in applying for this amazing experience come and talk to me and I will be happy to share more with you about my stay in the Cook Islands.