When I first came to Larita Academy, I didn’t really know what to expect. To be honest, on the first day, I didn’t even know what Larita Academy was. But after that first day, everything shifted. Meeting coaches, professionals, and people who came in not to impress us but to share what they had learned in their lives, it opened my mind in a way I didn’t see coming.

"You don’t expect a program to change your life in three days, but somehow it does. The way they welcome you is unbelievable. All the happy faces, how friendly everyone is, it feels like you’ve known them for years."

I’ve always enjoyed creative writing, and I have a passion for helping at-risk youth. But I wasn’t sure how those interests connected to a real future. Before Larita, I was working as a dishwasher in a restaurant for two years. I thought that was just how life would be. School, work, pocket money, repeat. I didn’t picture anything beyond that. Larita made me realise there was so much more I could reach for.

One of my favourite moments was a teamwork challenge on day two. We were in the kitchen, cooking a meal together. Everyone had a role, and by the end we had created something together. I don’t usually get to do that in my everyday life. I don’t have many friends. My world was mostly work and gym. So being part of something where everyone contributed and supported each other really stood out to me. It showed me what being part of a team could feel like.

There were also moments that hit deeper. Hearing Larry talk about starting from the bottom and working his way up made something click for me. He said to find your tribe and to just go and get it. Those words stuck. They made me think differently about what I could do with my own life.

“Larita opened my eyes. I never thought I’d apply to be a swimming instructor, especially with English as my second language. But I went for it, and I got the job.”

Teaching swimming has become more than a job for me. Many of the people I teach don’t speak much English or they lack confidence in themselves. Helping them learn something new, something that could keep them safe, feels like giving back. I ended up leaving my restaurant job. That was a big deal for me.

Another thing that has stayed with me is the diversity and connection at Larita. At school, people stayed in their groups. Afghans with Afghans. Samoans with Samoans. Africans with Africans. But at Larita, everyone mixed. Everyone talked. That kind of connection is rare, and it meant a lot.

“If you feel alone, if you don’t have friends, go to Larita Academy. The moment you walk in, it feels like family.”

I now know the kind of work I’d like to do in the future, and I would recommend Larita Academy to other young people. If you want to learn more, grow your confidence, or find your direction, Larita is the place to start. If you don’t know how to get there, ask your local youth support. That’s how I found mine. And everything changed from there.