Sign In / Register
When I first started writing this column, I was 21, freshly graduated from university, just finished my time as the youngest member of the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board, and completely unsure what came next after travel plans were interrupted. It was during lockdown and, like many others, I was jobless, restless, and trying to figure out life from my bedroom desk. Then came a message: “Would you like to write a youth column?” To which I said a delighted yes!
Since then, I’ve had the joy of meeting incredible young people all across the Coast through youth mentoring, alternative education tutoring, church youth group, Friday night basketball at Ballers Night Club, volunteering, and now working with young adults. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that the young people of our Coast are truly inspiring.
I think of the young rapper chasing his dream one song at a time. The young woman who’s faced anxiety and depression, and with courage and support is now walking in greater joy and peace. The teenager from a tough background who’s pursued a better future, step by step. These are just a few of the countless untold stories of determination, creativity, and resilience that make me proud to call this community home.
It’s no secret that growing up today comes with unique challenges, from social media pressure to mental-health struggles. But there are so many signs of hope. The Coast is full of big-hearted people quietly making a difference: mentors who listen without judgment, teachers who go the extra mile, employers who take a chance on a first-time worker, parents and grandparents who show up with love and patience. Together, they form a beautiful ecosystem of care, one that keeps our young people seen, supported, and surrounded.
I’ve always tried to season these columns with hope and a gentle call to action. In an information-saturated world, it’s easy to consume stories without responding, to know a lot but do little. Yet this generation values authenticity and purpose. I’ve been moved time and time again, at how much the simple act of listening, being present and an uplifting word can make a day or change a trajectory. So let’s keep being that Coast village for our rangatahi: encouraging them, learning from them, and celebrating them.
Finally, it has been an absolute privilege to share a few words with you each month or so over the past six years. Thank you for sharing the journey, and reading, supporting, and believing in our young people. The future is bright, as the story continues to be written through acts of care, courage, and creativity from both young and old here on the Coast.
We say farewell to Caitlin and thank her for her mahi and wise words over the past six years.
