kiaora@standtall.nz
Since the YES (Young Enterprise Scheme*) year has now come to an end after three terms of exciting business building activity, we catch up with energising and future focussed Steph, and ask her:
- what has been a highlight of your year? what are you most proud of?
- why do you think entrepreneurship skills are so important?
- what would you like to do more with your students?
- what would help you do more?
* YES is the in-school flagship entrepreneurship programme developed by Young Enterprise Trust, and delivered in the Tauranga/Western Bay of Plenty region by Stand Tall)
Here is what Steph has got to say:
“Hi, I’m Steph Davids, Teacher of Enterprise at Te Puke High School. This has been my second year participating in the Young Enterprise Scheme, ran by Stand Tall in our region.
This year I have seen my Yr13 students rise to the challenge of making and running their enterprises. Seeing them sell their products at Market Day in August at the Canvas Careers Expo and the excitement of their first sale makes me proud. The mahi that these students put in is phenomenal and the skills they learn from this experience are second to none. There is no other programme that allows students to run their own business in the safety of their school, with the support they need, where making mistakes are encouraged. Personal growth and development are definitely positive outcomes on the other side of the experience!
The skills students pick up along the way are invaluable, as it builds them up as future employee but it also gives them the confidence that can run their own business. The skills they learn are actually transferable in any situation.
I aim to expose my students to as many experiences as possible. I do this through YES, the BP Challenge, YIA as well as inviting guest speakers, organising field trips, including one to Wellington every two years to widen their horizons of the type and range of business that there is out there. Our rangatahi don’t know what they don’t know so it is my job to show them all possibilities, so they can be the best they can be.
A student once asked me “Don’t you hate it when a student does better than you in life?” My reply “That is the point!”
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